Operations and supply chain management: The case of Fermob, outdoor lounge

Résumé du document

We chose to study the supply chain of Fermob whose headquarters and factory are located in Thoissey near Belleville in Ain (half an hour North from Lyon). Fermob's mission is to design and make outdoor furniture which decorates the garden in a relaxed and convivial way. Fermob furniture has an added creative value, it is of high quality, and is attractive, comfortable and affordable. Two words epitomize Fermob furniture: Outdoor Lounge. Fermob furniture is part of the pleasure gained from the positive effects of nature. The company was taken over in 1990 by Bernard Reybier, who graduated from EM LYON in 1975.In 1990 there were only 20 employees, today 200 people are employed by Fermob, including designers, workers, quality controllers, sales representatives and marketers.

Extraits

[...] For information, retailers' margin vary from 1.8 to 2.5 (no tax included when sold to the retailer). To promote their products, they participate in trade shows such as Tradexpo in Paris. For one year, they have reduced their participation in trade shows, as first it is expensive and then, as they have built a showroom in Thoissey. In this showroom, we find all products, and with a new software, called 3iD, it is possible to visualize how a certain chair or table would fit in your own garden, only with photos. [...]

[...] It also has an environmental friendly philosophy. Inspired by the natural world, Fermob furniture meets specific requirements to respect the environment, which is one of Fermob's values : It is made of steel or aluminium, a material which is 100% recyclable and really is recycled to over 95% in most countries The other materials such as Outdoor Technical Fabrics are also recyclable Wood used only for Bistro Naturel seats and Piazza Caffè range- comes entirely from European managed forests, through selected suppliers holding PEFC certification The paint contains no heavy metals, which optimizes the recyclability of Fermob furniture. [...]

[...] - The moulding is made in small manual moulding cabins. Foremen control the welding or the different components. Then, they hang the gross pieces and pieces of aluminium, which they outsourced in Asia, and they automatically go through a rust-proofing tunnel: jets throw special products. Then they go through the painting process. The painting is automatic pistols by electrostatism): the powder sticks on the chairs and tables, but two men check they are well painted all over. This Fermob-exclusive process is one of the most efficient plants in Europe. [...]

[...] Operations & Supply Chain Management The case of Fermob, outdoor lounge Introduction We chose to study the supply chain of Fermob. The headquarters and factory are located in Thoissey near Belleville in Ain (half an hour North from Lyon). Fermob's mission is to design and make outdoor furniture which decorates the garden in a relaxed and convivial way. Fermob furniture has an added creative value, is of high quality, and is attractive, comfortable and affordable. Two words epitomise Fermob furniture: Outdoor Lounge. [...]

[...] Bistro tables and chairs are available in 14 colours. For this range, they use of course steel, but slats are either in wood (beech) or in steel or in Duraflon® (high density resin) Conclusion Fermob's supply chain is rather flexible according to its product structure. Fermob pays attention to standardized as well as customarized. In that case, it combines produce to order with produce to stock. Although Fermob does not own many shops, it managed to establish a very large retailer network. [...]