FBI readies 1st China office
By Heath E. Combs -- Furniture Today, January 13, 2008
St. Louis — Furniture Brands International revamped its supply chain team last week and announced a new China office, aiming to improve logistics and develop stronger Asia-based operations.
The China-based arm is the company's first physical office in China, and will handle all sourcing.
Formerly, each of FBI's brands could source on its own or through a third party, Outlook International, which was responsible for quality management and elements of production. Outlook was not part of FBI.
The new office should help the company build a more integrated model, requiring less travel, shortening product development, simplifying communications and allowing the brands more time to get consumer feedback, said Mike McBreen, vice president of logistics and supply chain for Furniture Brands.
Jimmy Martin was named managing director of Asia-based operations and will head global sourcing. He will be based in Dongguan, China, and will manage the new Furniture Brands Hangzhou Co. office, which will be the headquarters of its Asian sourcing operations. FBI expects to have 120 employees there.
Martin had been senior vice president of supply chain for Broyhill, an FBI company, for about a year and previously was with sister company Lane for 33 years, most recently as head of manufacturing and supply chain management.
Davy Whittington was named head of distribution and logistics, managing logistics programs, fleet operations and distribution centers across all brands. He will lead negotiations with logistics service providers.
Jeff Smith was named head of product development for all brands. His goals will include reducing lead times and optimizing the performance of FBI's domestic and offshore assets.
Brian Martin was named head of sourcing operations and will work to improve product quality and delivery performance while reducing costs.
Tara Newman will coordinate import logistics functions, including container shipments. She reports to Whittington.
The company said it would consolidate distribution center operations domestically and offshore to facilitate Customs compliance and roll out consolidated container-direct deliveries to large retailers.
"We have built our supply chain team with seasoned furniture industry professionals from within our own brands, all working together efficiently and effectively," said McBreen.
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