A STUDY ON THE STATUS OF FURNITURE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES IN MORATUWA AREA

Abstract

Moratuwa area has a long history of furniture industry in Sri Lanka. In the present study,furniture manufacturing industry (FMI) in Moratuwa was studied using twoquestionnaire surveys. The main raw materials. manufacturing process, technologicallevel, furniture designing methods, seasoning methods. waste disposal methods,educational and sociological aspects of workers of the FMI were studied. In addition, datawere collected on furniture marketing from the Ratmalana furniture permit-issuing centerof the Forest Department. Raw material supplies (timber logs) into the Moratuwa areawere also studied at five different locations including timber-checking stations

The study revealed that the Moratuwa area consists of considerable amount ofmechanized carpentry sheds and some associate with furniture shops or saw mills. 83%of furniture is manufactured using heavy wood species and 17% using light wood species.Teak is the most popular timber species followed by Satin and Nadun. Most of thetimbers used in the industry are air dried, while others are kiln-dried. Three commonmethods are observed for designing of furniture: based on consumer preference,traditional designs by carpenters and use of designs from foreign catalogues. Furniturecan be categorized into six broad categories, based on their quality and finishing level.Semi- finished Furniture are mostly sold in bulk to furniture dealers in out side areas, andafter transportation, they are finished and sold based on regional requirements.

The total number of furniture production per month is estimated as 63,612 units, when41 furniture items are considered. Teak Cabinets, Teak Elmira, and Teak Chairs are themain manufactured items. The overall monthly income from all the FMI of Moratuwaarea is estimated to be Rs. 54.05 million.

Wooden wastes mainly consist of sawdust! slabs (2854 cum) and fuel wood (1850 cu.rn),which arc estimated to value approximately Rs. 569,270.00. 13 % of this wooden waste isused for cooking purposes in the FMI of Moratuwa area. 34% is used for other purposessuch as agricultural and poultry industries and as fuel for kilns of the brick industry.However 44% of wooden wastes is not utilized and is disposed by burning.

The total number of workers is estimated as 3515 workers which comprises, skilledcarpenters (68%), semi skilled carpenters (11%), laborers (7%), other category workers(5%Y," managerS (4%) and supervisors (4%). The dominant age class-ilrthe"FMJ is"4F55 years, which represents 44 percent of the total workers. 192 children (out of 378) ofthe workers are employed in FMI; which accounts 51 percent children of the workers jointheFMI. The educational levels of the workers are low and they have gained their skills fromtheir fathers and forefathers