ASHEBORO — Klaussner Furniture Industries, one of the top five furniture manufacturers in the United States,


announced Monday it would consolidate its product lines and primary manufacturing facilities in Asheboro to better utilize those factories and to create more work hours for the company’s employees.

The changes will begin this month and should be completed by January 2014.

“As a result of these consolidations, there will be new jobs created, job descriptions and responsibilities redefined, and unfortunately some jobs will be eliminated,” said Mark Walker, KFI marketing director, in a press release.

“To minimize the number of layoffs that have to occur, effective immediately, current KFI employees will be given primary consideration for any job vacancies within the company.”

Contacted Monday night, Walker said it is too early to determine the net gain or loss of jobs.

Walker added that an internal applicant pool is being created to allow employees who want to be considered for any new jobs that may come available. Every attempt will be made to fill any available position with a current employee, he said.

Multiple shifts will take place in local operations.

The Klaussner leather product line, currently produced at the Plant 7 facility, will be consolidated into the Plant 1 facility, which will allow the entire Klaussner product line (textile and leather) to be produced under one roof. Both facilities are located at the Lewallen Road corporate complex in Asheboro.

The Distinctions textile product line will be moved from the Plant 5 facility on Lewallen Road to the Plant 7 facility. That move will put all Distinctions products (textile, leather and wood base) under one roof.

Walker called a third change “the most positive and advantageous move.” The entire reclining product line, currently being produced at the Plant 9 facility off Carl Drive in North Asheboro, will be consolidated to the Plant 5 facility. That move is being made to increase production capacity for the reclining product line which is needed to better serve KFI’s customer base and to balance work schedules.

In order to accommodate the space needs of the reclining product line moving into the Plant 5 facility, the Miscellaneous Parts Department will be moved into the Plant 20 leather cutting facility, also on Lewallen Road.

Klaussner’s swatch production operation, currently at the KFI Iowa facility, will be moved to Asheboro. The Plant 3 automated fabric cutting facility, located off South 220 Business, will handle the fabric swatch production with leather swatch production being moved to the Plant 20 leather cutting facility on Lewallen Road.

The equipment and facility changes to accommodate that move are already under way and should be completed by month’s end.

The consolidation of those product lines will mean the employees working with those products will also have to be moved. However, since all the plants involved are in the Asheboro area, that should not pose a hardship for the employees involved, said Walker.

Walker added the reason for the changes is simple: “While the nation’s furniture industry continues to change, KFI will aggressively take a proactive stance to make all necessary changes to insure that the company remains strong and competitive.”Changes coming at KFI plants

From staff reports
Posted: 09/18/06 – 10:27:00 pm CDT

ASHEBORO — Klaussner Furniture Industries, one of the top five furniture manufacturers in the United States, announced Monday it would consolidate its product lines and primary manufacturing facilities in Asheboro to better utilize those factories and to create more work hours for the company’s employees.

The changes will begin this month and should be completed by January 2014.

“As a result of these consolidations, there will be new jobs created, job descriptions and responsibilities redefined, and unfortunately some jobs will be eliminated,” said Mark Walker, KFI marketing director, in a press release.

“To minimize the number of layoffs that have to occur, effective immediately, current KFI employees will be given primary consideration for any job vacancies within the company.”

Contacted Monday night, Walker said it is too early to determine the net gain or loss of jobs.

Walker added that an internal applicant pool is being created to allow employees who want to be considered for any new jobs that may come available. Every attempt will be made to fill any available position with a current employee, he said.

Multiple shifts will take place in local operations.

The Klaussner leather product line, currently produced at the Plant 7 facility, will be consolidated into the Plant 1 facility, which will allow the entire Klaussner product line (textile and leather) to be produced under one roof. Both facilities are located at the Lewallen Road corporate complex in Asheboro.

The Distinctions textile product line will be moved from the Plant 5 facility on Lewallen Road to the Plant 7 facility. That move will put all Distinctions products (textile, leather and wood base) under one roof.

Walker called a third change “the most positive and advantageous move.” The entire reclining product line, currently being produced at the Plant 9 facility off Carl Drive in North Asheboro, will be consolidated to the Plant 5 facility. That move is being made to increase production capacity for the reclining product line which is needed to better serve KFI’s customer base and to balance work schedules.

In order to accommodate the space needs of the reclining product line moving into the Plant 5 facility, the Miscellaneous Parts Department will be moved into the Plant 20 leather cutting facility, also on Lewallen Road.

Klaussner’s swatch production operation, currently at the KFI Iowa facility, will be moved to Asheboro. The Plant 3 automated fabric cutting facility, located off South 220 Business, will handle the fabric swatch production with leather swatch production being moved to the Plant 20 leather cutting facility on Lewallen Road.

The equipment and facility changes to accommodate that move are already under way and should be completed by month’s end.

The consolidation of those product lines will mean the employees working with those products will also have to be moved. However, since all the plants involved are in the Asheboro area, that should not pose a hardship for the employees involved, said Walker.

Walker added the reason for the changes is simple: “While the nation’s furniture industry continues to change, KFI will aggressively take a proactive stance to make all necessary changes to insure that the company remains strong and competitive.”