IMPORTED FURNITURE

We have several challenges which pose some difficulties in giving proper description of the furniture. I think is high time for authority to reach beyond and collaborate with PMU's in PE's in establishing proper acceptable items should be used in the offices and to become area of auditing in order to emphasis the adoption of standard acceptable for furniture for offices. As currently we have office table almost 80% are made of MDF but few are made of hard wood like mninga in our offices or soft wood which I believe they are more durable than MDF tables. However in the market we have been popularity with imported goods and it has a real challenge in our choices of what we should buy?

Another confusing challenge is office chairs that I am not very sure of having good chairs made within our nation manufacture of the best and comfortable which will met PE’ requirements also we need to have a look on this.

Furthermore I am challenging other authority like TBS to issue guidelines for standards to public from time to time which will give consumer confidence certify the items of her choice from the market. As I believe a well informed consumer his likely to use or to acquire the best from market hence reduces the chances of business dealer to order goods of below standards and earn higher profit while customer remain economical loss and unsatisfied

Hello,

In my view the issue here is do we get 'value for money' for that Imported furniture. the point is that do we have alternative to that that will comply the same in terms of quality, durability, timely delivery and that can save puporse to satisfaction of the user ? To my opinion if we have in country furnitures with similar attributes there is no need then. You might challenge the attribute of durability, use as intended will save the purpose. Let our industries be creative to cope with globalization and think of Environmental Friendly items 'copying is allowed' visit one tanzanian furniture shop at Mliman City you will appreciate.

I stand to be challenged.

Eng. Nicholas FD

To my view the main issue here is not really the furniture being bought from outside the country, the main issue is the quality of these imported furniture as procured by PEs. In my experience these furniture especially the executive chairs do serve for a maximum of 1-1.5 years depending on the weight of the user. Which to me shows a sign that some quality feature/aspect may have not been closely followed.

@RSM,
If all furniture are to be made of wood then it is most likely that our forests will be depleted before we know it. But also as it stands now the implementation of the budget guide for 2010/11 on furniture has not been adhered to, may be there is more need to focus in ensuring this.

Dear Forum Members

To quote RJM

IS THIS A HIGH TIME TO HAVE A “COUNTRY POLICY ON PROCUREMENT OF FURNITURE”.

I am not sure that this is a policy issue for furniture only - I think it is the issue of the use of local products and possibly - Buy Tanzanian Policy.

I understand that in the Budget Guidelines for F/Y 2010/11 PEs were directed not to order foreign furnitures. I have two questions:

(1) To what extent is that directive implemented?
(2) What would be the effect on the environment if all furniture ordered by PEs is to be made of wood

Having witnessed the procurement of furniture worth billions by Ministries Departments and Executive Agencies for the past 6 years,and all these being large and by Public Service Reform Programme funds-simply DONOR FUNDS, it is unfortunate to note two or three interesting issues:
Most of the procured furniture were imported from MALAYSIA OR CHINA
To a larger extent the furniture are made of MDF at best and may be NOW just worn out wherever they are, to tell the truth.
The above is the hard reality and the financial implications versus value for money doesnt need any sound researcher!
THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO THE PROBLEM AS FAR AS I THINK
WHO VETS THE SPECIFICATIONS FOR FURNITURE?WHY DO WE HAVE SOME INSTITUTIONS MANDATED TO ISSUE SPECS FOR ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AND MOTOR VEHICLES AND MACHINES BUT WE DONT AS A GOVERNMENT A MANDATED INSTITUTION TO MANAGE THE SPECIFICATIONS FOR FURNITURE?
WHILE THE ABOVE MAY SOUND AS A GOOD ALIBI FOR PROCUREMENT OF WHAT MY CEO CALLS DISPOSABLE FURNITURE, PROFESSIONALS SHOULD ENCOURAGE THEIR ENTITIES TO CONSIDER FURNITURE AS A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AND LETS LEARN THE USE OF LIFE CYCLE COSTS TO GET THE BEST VALUE
MY THIRD PROBLEM IS WHY MANUFACTURERS OF LOCALLY MADE FURNITURE RARELY PARTICIPATE IN TENDERING FOR OFFICE OR EVEN CLASSROOM FURNITUURE FOR PUBLIC OFFICES?

RJM,
As you righly put, when specifying, your main intention is to communicate to the potential bidders what you need to be supplied in order to meet you intended purposes. Again one reason of specifying is to draw criteria against which inspection should be conducted. Now if you draw a specification and it lands on furniture which needs replacement after months, is there any good need of maintaining the same kind of specs?

Kamajura

Of late, our entities have been importing furniture. Are we really getting value for such imports?