Virtual organization in wood processing and furniture manufacturing

Non-flexible production structures can no longer survive on a turbulent market, since they react to changes only too slowly. In order to satisfy specific customer needs related to performance, quality, quantity, cost and delivery deadlines, it is necessary to restructure the factories that are still organized according to the Taylor principles. One of the options is to implement new forms of co-operation that would lead to virtual factories. In order to become efficient, a factory needs to utilize modern communication and information technology. This paper presents and analises basic communication and information technologies that can be used in connecting partners within the virtual factory. The factory of the future will develop permanently. Its contours and structures will not be clearly recognized as those of a traditional factory, but it will have all the characteristics of a virtual reality. New business relationships will be even stronger and last longer, and so will the connections with suppliers and customers. This requires permanent, detailed restructuring and reorganization for enterprises network and new sophisticated communication and information technologies. This is the future for many Croatian furniture manufacutring and wood products. With such a concept, the real virtual factory will influence the marketing and cost of furniture and wood products, and our firms will become competitive as well as profitable.