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The Business Of Upholstery => The Business Of Upholstery => Topic started by: baileyuph on July 15, 2015, 05:59:28 pm

Title: Factory Time required to install upholstery on a frame
Post by: baileyuph on July 15, 2015, 05:59:28 pm
Factory time compared to custom reupholstery time to staple the material to a chair frame - can anyone provide insights?

Kody and perhaps others have factory as well as custom experience.

For example, I can't hang the upholstery on a wing back in two hours or so, but I suspect on the assembly line two upholsterers could come close to stappling the upholstery on somewhere near to that time, collectively (one hour plus each that is). 

I can't staple the pieces to a frame on a wing back that quickly is why I am interested in know assembly line requirements.  Obviously, the factory is more efficient, but a comparison would be of interest.

I finished a job like that today, it involved applying welting, flex grip, very little pad building, but it took most of the day.  The T-cushion was accomplished yesterday after noon.

I am closely monitoring my time requirements.

Any insights welcome,

Doyle
Title: Re: Factory Time required to install upholstery on a frame
Post by: MinUph on July 15, 2015, 07:42:39 pm
  I don't think it's fair to yourself to try and compare your time with a factory. I have watched modern factories upholster and it is nothing like what you and I do. Besides the fact that everything (filling, frames etc.) is new and uniformed the procedures have surely changed. One video I watch oh maybe a year or so ago showed one guy putting together a loveseat or sofa I forget which. He had the insides done in probably 1/2 an hour. Not the same process as us but it is factory. It was nothing more than a bag but when done it looked good. I guess this is an extreme but you get the picture.
  A small business will never compete with a factory setting. We just dont do it the same ways and can't afford to either.
  We are tradesmen and there is a huge difference.
Title: Re: Factory Time required to install upholstery on a frame
Post by: kodydog on July 15, 2015, 08:21:05 pm
Yes, what Paul said. There are videos of a guy tufting a Chesterfield Leather Sofa. He had a rhythm that had it done in less than an hour. The factories have it down to a science. The work just keeps flowing through.

In the factory I insided 5 or 6 of these chairs a day. And I was considered slow. No way I could do that now.

(https://forum.upholster.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1179.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fx386%2FEdwinNorthuis%2Fth_HBFBarrowChs.jpg&hash=9e55001acee54596ded8431aa1a80a5e) (http://s1179.photobucket.com/user/EdwinNorthuis/media/HBFBarrowChs.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Factory Time required to install upholstery on a frame
Post by: byhammerandhand on July 16, 2015, 05:23:06 am
Ever taken a tour of an auto assembly plant, then wonder why your local repair shop takes an hour to replace a part?