5.30.13 | Holland, MI | Michael A. Dunlap & Associates, LLC unveils the results of its second annual MADA / OFI Supplier Survey, a unique tool that designed to measure how suppliers view their customers and to measure certain criteria in the business relationship. This survey was completed during the month of May 2013.

Twenty of the largest office, education, healthcare, and hospitality furniture manufacturers in North America were selected. Suppliers were asked to rate each furniture manufacturer, rating each area on a scale of 5 (Excellent), 4, (Good), 3 (Fair), 2 (Poor), and 1 (Not Acceptable) for 10 individual business activities:
• Accounting/Finance
• Engineering
• Information Technology
• Manufacturing
• Marketing and Product Management
• Quality Management
• Product Development
• Sourcing/Purchasing/Procurement
• Top Management
• Overall Experience.

The scores for each furniture manufacturer and each business activity were collected and evaluated into a TOTAL SCORE for each furniture manufacturer.

Suppliers rated Trendway Corporation as its premier customer.

Rated second is Allsteel, Incorporated, located in Muscatine, Iowa, followed by Nucraft, Incorporated, located in Comstock Park, Michigan. Allsteel ranked 1st in the 2012 survey.

Dunlap commented, “I am very pleased to see the continuation of the relatively high ratings from so many suppliers. There were very few ‘poor’ and ‘not acceptable’ comments. Many were ‘excellent’ but most were ‘good’ or ‘fair’. For the most part the industry’s supply base continues to be reasonably happy with their business relationships, although there is certainly room for improvement in many areas.

Dunlap again thanked the respondents with this comment. “I am very thankful for the significant number of suppliers who took the time to complete this fairly complex survey. Their candor and honesty shouldl add to even better OFM / Supplier relationships.

Respondents were asked which companies they currently supply to and which they would like to supply to. Herman Miller, Inc. led the list of current customers, whereas American Seating Company was noted as the company they were most interested to supply to.

The May 2013 MADA / OFI Trends survey was sent to more than 250 individuals involved with the supply of components, raw materials, or services office, education, healthcare, and hospitality furniture industries.

For further information, please contact:
Mike Dunlap at
Phone: 616-786-3524
Mobile: 616-430-3524
e-mail: [email protected] www.mdunlap-associates.com

Michael A. Dunlap & Associates, LLC, is a consulting firm that focuses upon issues involving the working, learning, healing, and hospitality environments and furniture industries. These include a variety of business activities, such as strategic business and market planning, furniture industry trends, international partnerships & collaboration, independent rep sales team development, and products liability program management. He frequently speaks to a wide assortment of organizations that are actively involved in the commercial furniture industry.