Right Place Office Furniture Industry Council Becomes BIFMA Supply Chain Committee

Furniture World Magazine

The Right Place, Inc., and the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA International) announced today that the Right Place's 11-year-old Office Furniture Industry Council (OFIC) will become BIFMA's new Supply Chain Management Committee. Introduced to BIFMA members during the Association's annual meeting at NeoCon, the committee's objective will be to continue the OFIC's mission to provide a forum for office furniture manufacturers and suppliers to cooperatively address industry issues. Approved by both The Right Place and BIFMA boards in recent weeks, the move provides greater visibility and brand recognition for the work of the OFIC, and an important inroad to supply chain development for the industry association. "This is a critical time for the office furniture industry," noted Michelle Cleveland, Right Place vice president and facilitator of the council. "Supply chain models and distribution channels are shifting dramatically and as the office furniture manufacturers become more successful in adapting to the global marketplace they will continue to form more strategic partnerships with their supply chains. This merger represents a renewed commitment by BIFMA and the industry's leadership to support the continued development of the supply chain and will ultimately be a great asset to the industry." "The BIFMA Board and Staff are excited about this expansion of our scope and look forward to providing additional value to the industry," added BIFMA executive director Tom Reardon. "Over the years, interest and involvement in OFIC activities has grown and now includes companies from around North America. Both the BIFMA and Right Place leadership see the integration of OFIC activity into BIFMA as a logical progression required to broaden industry exposure to, and involvement in this supply-chain work" Established in 1973, BIFMA International is a not-for-profit trade association of furniture manufacturers and suppliers addressing issues of common concern. An advisor to the OFIC since 1997, BIFMA's mission is to serve the North American office and business furniture manufacturing industry as an information resource, industry advocate and by offering professional and industry-wide trade development opportunities. Established in 1992 and comprising office furniture manufacturers and suppliers from across North America, the mission of the OFIC is to ensure growth by creating value and eliminating waste in the customer, supplier relationship. Convened and facilitated by The Right Place, Inc. and its MMTC-West office, the OFIC's voluntary members have standardized business practices and created development opportunities for suppliers by hosting industry forums, user groups, and tours of best practice.