On the occasion of Vietnam International Furniture & Home Accessories Fair VIFA 2009 organized by HAWA in March 09 and following the document No. 689/Hawa, reporter of Vietnam Business Forum under VCCI had an interview with Mr. Thomas Schultz – Laboratory Manager of TÜV Rheinland Vietnam – LGA Furniture Laboratory in Ho Chi Minh City.
How do you think about the ability of Vietnamese furniture exporters in term of meeting the importers’ requirements?
The woodwork industry in Vietnam has improved not only in the number of factories and productivity but also in modern equipment that raises quality and productivity. Consumers from themajor markets like U.S and EU have strong impression on Vietnamese furniture with various models and oriental styles. However, the market requirements are constantly increased and to meet those, Vietnamese exporters still face with technical barriers in terms of product safety and quality, which have important impacts on the importers’ decision besides competitive prices.
To comply with the market requirements, TÜV Rheinland Vietnam – LGA Furniture Laboratory supports Vietnamese manufactures in Product Testing and Certification (Quality and Fitness for Use, Mechanical and Chemical Safety, …) Training (Training for customers and their suppliers in safety and basic test requirements for furniture). By our recognized test marks (LGA Tested Marks, LGA & TÜV Rheinland GS Marks, TUVdotcom…), the customers and consumers know that the products are safe for use.
In such an economic crisis, how does it affect Vietnamese furniture business?
Companies in different industries are facing market recession due to the global economic crisis and, of course, woodwork is not an exception. We can see the quantity of order placements being reduced, which becomes a big challenge for Vietnamese furniture industry. Anyhow, the challenge can also be seen as opportunity for local manufacturers to conquer the traditional as well as the new markets. That is to ensure their products’ quality and the compliance with international requirements. With the expertise in consulting and testing services, we support the buyers and manufacturers alike.
What is your assessment on the quality of Vietnamese furniture products?
As the annual sales figures proof, the wood & furniture industry in Vietnam is very potential but local manufacturers should develop a higher awareness in terms of safety and quality, also to be competitive among other Asian countries in the coming years. This and competitive prices will be the key factors in maintaining the strength of Vietnamese furniture.
How do you convince the European buyers and the big local manufacturers to send their samples to your lab?
TÜV Rheinland Vietnam – LGA Furniture Laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and employs highly trained and motivated engineers to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the test results. We always offer our customers, Buyers and Vietnam manufacturers, not only testing services but also consulting and hands-on support for the steady improvement of their products. All questions on furniture safety & quality will be fully answered by our experienced engineers as well as our various testing services can fulfill each client’s requirement. Playing a role as an independent third party, we evaluate, test and certify customers’ products following international standards.
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