SWOL Analysis of Lekhnath Kastha Furniture Udyog

Lekhnath Kastha Furniture Udyog lies in Pokhara – 26, Talchowk. It was established in 2054 B.S. covering an area of 2.5 Ropani and consists of four different machines operated year-round. The owner of this factory is Harish Chandra Gaire. He has completed his undergraduate in Business Administration. The factory consists of 3 skilled manpower and 1 unskilled labor.

Lekhnath Wood Furniture Factory, Pokhara, Nepal

Wood Supply to Funiture Industry

The main source of wood for this industry is through contractors. Sal, Sallo are mostly used species.
The raw materials imported by industry also includes imported Malaysian sal (from Indonesia). The easily available raw material are Khote Sallo, Sal, Rani Sallo. The preferred diameter of round logs is above 30 cm. The industry imports 1000 cft. at once and works for 3 months on it. This industry imports nice and uniform round woods leaving behind defective and non-uniform round woods. 
Size of wood products demanded by sawmill is 9ft, 7ft, 6ft, and 5ft. Average wood processed in this industry per day  - 50 cubic ft. Price per cubic ft of Sal- Rs 4195. Price per cubic ft of Khote salla-  Rs 250 - 350. Furniture is the preferred product for customers from this industry. Major furniture products- Dining table, bed, windows, and doors.

Seasoning practice in a wood factory

Air Seasoning of Woods

The existing seasoning process found to be used in this industry was air seasoning. The woods were vertically and horizontally stacked in the traditional way on the open ground under the trussed shelter.
The industry is planning to expand its seasoning process by introducing kiln seasoning.

Defects, Grading, and Storage

Wood Storage in a wood Factory

This Industry supplies its sawn wood to local furniture factories and final product to locals. It divides the products into three grades: A, B & C based on the raw material used. Decaying, knot and ray split is a major wood defect. A wood defect on the outer surface can easily observable while for inner wood defects identification there is no mechanism. Approximately, 2000 cft. of wood can be stored by this industry in its storing areas of 1.5 Ropani.

No safety measures are used by workers throughout the work but may use simple glass, gloves, and apron types of general safety measures during the sawing of heavy round woods. The industry is often monitored by forest officials and give suggestions. The supply from the industries can meet the demand.

Worker's safety at work in a wood factory

Problems

The only assist the industry has been getting is in the form of suggestions from the district forest office. There is a high fluctuation in the market price which affects the smooth functioning of the industry at times. There are constant problems of getting skilled manpower for the industry as the workforce is not stable and there are frequent changes in the labor force. The major problem in the storage is caused by rainfall as the stored woods are more likely to be affected by the rain due to not so secure structures.  There is high competition in the market from adjacent industries and similar products. Problems while transporting logs are occasional with checking hurdles in different parts of highways and inner roads.

SWOL Analysis

Strength Accessible transportation: adjacent to a highway Supply meets demand Satisfied customers	Weakness Unstable workforce Only air seasoning used Unable to use nonround woods Storage structures not secure
Opportunities Higher demand for the quality product The easy and nearby market for furniture  Increase in the skilled workforce could vastly improve production (both quantity and quality)	Limitations No mechanism for interior wood defect identification. No updates on technically superior instruments for wood processing.

Way forward

Operational level

Introduction of the highly mechanized workforce, reducing labor cost and introducing technically superior wood processing methods. Introduction of kiln seasoning. Constructions of secure storage structures. The safety of the workers should be kept on special consideration.

Policy level

The government needs to promote optimum use of local woods introducing advanced methods for processing. The secure market should be ensured and fluctuations should be minimized. Policy on creating a skilled workforce should be developed for efficient utilization of woods. Efficient implementation of ergonomics policies.