Brief Overview of Business Process Management in the Furniture Industry in Bulgaria

Abstract

Today furniture manufacturing in industrial production in Bulgaria is lower in comparison with the countries in the European Union. However, Bulgarian furniture industry continues its growth trend. Leading industry activities include the production of office and retail store furniture, kitchen furniture, other furniture, mattresses, bedding. Company management has become a difficult task for Bulgarian managers in the complex and dynamic environment of the modern economy. In the context of accelerated market globalization, the presence of macroeconomic imbalances in the economy and the pressure that global trends exert on the economy, the Bulgarian business is experiencing a difficult period. Providing well-structured and wellrunning business processes and their management are major economic problems of increasing relevance for the management in the furniture sector. The study of numerous literature sources indicates the existence of methodological shortcomings related to methods of improving the management of business processes in the furniture industry. The main objectives of this empirical study are: 1. To establish the current status of management of important process in furniture companies. 2. To demonstrate the efficiency of software tools in enhancing the business processes in order to improve their management. 3. To propose recommendations to improve business processes management in furniture companies. The empirical study is conducted in 47 of the initially planned 90 furniture companies, who have answered to all questions. The sample includes companies, members of the Branch Chamber of Woodworking and Furniture Industry (BCWFI), who have expressed their willingness to participate in the study. Comparative analysis is used to analyze data both as a total sample and by individual groups. Comparative analysis of the results obtained from the individual firms in the sample was carried out along with an analysis of the overall survey results. Benchmarking is used to display the patterns characterizing the applicability of the methodology adapted to improve the management of business processes in companies from the furniture industry.