POOR QUALITY FURNITURE CAUSES LOSSES IN SOUTH SUDAN

Lack of knowledge and experience leads to mistrust between carpenters and their client’s

Poor quality furniture can be define as a cost of not doing the right thing on a lost of goodwill, and expenses incurred in refund, replacement, rework, has caused a lot of damages and mistrust between carpenters and their client’s every where in Yei town.

                                  

Poor produced furniture could be attributed to several reasons, one is human capacity to use the available tools and machinery, or his skills capacity to plan and perform the task at hand. Second is the materials used may not suit the purpose, among others.

As professional carpenter and instructor within carpentry and Joinery. I am very much concerned about on how to improve the quality of furniture produce, some times find it difficult to use the right tool and material for the right task.

I experience some time back, I produce a bed

 and sold it out to a client, after three days he came back with the bed. He told me that the bed had broken while using it at home. I asked him to give me two days to fix the problem.

When I examined the bed i found that it had broken on the joints a problem that i had not known before selling the bed out. I fixed the problem by repairing the broken joints, but still the same problem continued happening.

Now the challenge I'm facing is how to identify problem related to poor joint of a bed before putting it out for sale. Secondly what are the possible reason that could lead to poor joints.

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Introduction

Norwegian People’s Aid, Programme in south Sudan has four major concerns: food security including relief aid, health care, and community development currently known as Norwegian People’s Aid, Yei vocational training centre (NPA/YVTC).

NPA/YVTC was established in 1994 in Chukudum (Kenya), and latter transferred to Yei in 1997. Based to fight the decency syndrome and turn around the clock to focus deeply in to self-reliance and sustainability.

 This can be achieved only if the south Sudanese societies are provided with skills like apprentice

1.       Carpentry and joinery.

2.        Building and construction work.

3.        Tailoring/tie and die, and others).

Site work                                                                                                                  

Carpentry and joinery students practicing their skills, at site work by erecting a cross section of a roof truss.

 The most useful joints, used for roofing are:

Background

Since 1986. NPA has been the international organization most consistently working in south Sudan. As a largest nongovernmental organization operating in the liberated area, NPA had a special responsibility and opportunity to reach marginalized groups.

Objectives

a)      Mobilize and create awareness on self-reliance and sustainability perception.

b)       Provide skill training to enhance grass root economical development in the society.

c)        Provide micro-business management skills as a weapon of self-reliance.

d)       Reduce the level of illiteracy by creating educational awareness and teachings.

e)       Provide quality furniture, structures, materials and available market for internal and

Internationally.

Targeted

The immediate target groups are the youths, women/Ladies and vulnerable groups as they are the most disadvantaged societies in the south Sudan.

Reason of targeting this group will enable the society objective reach a better standard of living in the republic of south Sudan.

Norwegian people’s Aid, wants to make a difference and to help create a better future for the people of the republic of south Sudan.

Vision. Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), is to alleviate the south Sudanese communities from the syndrome of dependence and idleness created by the war and develops literacy and socio-economical independence.

NPA’s mission, is to proved a comprehensive and competent apprentice skills, training, educational awareness, highlight human rights, create gender awareness and support the most disadvantaged groups through training and workshops.

Brac students acquiring basic skills in NPA/YVTC.

Brac is an organization dedicated to the alleviation of poverty by empowering the poor to realize their potential and bring about positive change in their own lives. They started out in Bangladesh in 1972, and over the course of their evolution, they have established themselves as pioneer in recognizing and tacking the many different realities of poverty.

They organize the poor, especially women, and provide platform for them to come together, access services, exchange information, analyze and raise awareness on economic, social, legal, gender and other issues concerning their daily lives and their communities.

Brac aims to improve health condition of the poor, increase the literacy rate and bridge the gender gap, alleviate poverty and empower the poor, especially women and contribute in rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts of the government.

Brac students practicing their skills.

 This is Mrs. MARY ACHOL from BENTU state, sand papering an office chair and her fellow colleague Miss OPANI LILIAS, driving a nail to fix the seat of an office chair.

They are very interesting in practicing their skills; you can see how Miss HELLEN KIDEN is performing her skills by planning a piece of board for making office table.

Project report exam three

Summary

Introduction
This is a brief executive summary report, it describes and identifies the problems the society is facing in producing poor quality furniture, related to my own technical vocational practice as a carpenter.

Purpose
The purpose of this research plan is to explore and document the problems and the challenges the society is facing in producing poor quality furniture.

My understanding of the problem
The biggest threat the society is facing are: It seems many carpenters are taking short cuts. For example, if the timber is not properly seasoned and planed on the surface and edges.
Lack of better workmanship i.e. if the organization is lacking the good managerial worker then the company may not perform up to real potential.
Sometimes poor quality is intentionally made, to increase the sales profit. But in fact the poor quality leads to unsatisfied customer which after few days leads to the decrease in the sales.

Methodology
The method I use for this research plan is participation; the reason of using this method enables me as a researcher to participate and act in taking part, through involvement, joining in and sharing of opinions or activity that have a goal to be achieved. For example in meetings, work-shops and at site.  

Findings
The findings of my action and data collection; is an illustration of poor quality furniture, with relation to text and image, cause of timber defects and poor method of timber seasoning.

Conclusion and recommendation

The major key points are the outcome and challenges: the outcome of what I learned is about participation and future creation based on critique, Utopian and realizations phase. Challenge; what are the causes of poor quality furniture? And how shall the society and I a void poor quality of furniture others.

Proposal for future, after graduation

After competing my bachelor degree programmer, for Tvet.

I should like to do the following:

1. Go back to my former vocational training center, Norwegian people's Aid, Yei vocational training center.

• To teach and improve the standard of the vocational training center.
• Use general teaching methods and techniques
• Share the new knowledge and experience with fellow colleagues etc.

2. Re-view the former technical vocational training center curriculum by.

• Knowing the aims and the objective of the TVET curriculum.
• Introducing curriculum and education to the learners and community.
• The relationship between curriculum and education
• Elements, contents and organization of the learning experience etc.

Aim

The aim of the technical vocational education training curriculum: Is to help me reflect on the concept, elements and how a TVET curriculum can be developed. Help me focus on the TVET curriculum in which i operate and enlighten me on how to interpret the curriculum, and help me develop insight in facilitating the desired changes in education in my VTC.

Objectives

I should be able to: Explain what curriculum is and its relationship with education. Describe the process of curriculum development. Interpret the TVET and explain the qualities of a a good TVET curriculum and be able to identify my role in the TVET curriculum.

In order to play my role as a teacher effectively, i should understand that curriculum, development is a very important component in an education system. My knowledge of curriculum development will help me determine objectives, content, methods and evaluate procedure that are suitable in implementing the TVET programmer etc.

 

Chapter four PRE 1 analysis

Chapter four analysis

Discussion about what i learnt in my research, and documenting of my own professional practice based upon my log, research and my critical reflections related to my learning process, both when learning my skills and while performing my research, including documentation of my professional practice as a carpenter.

My critical thinking and reflection

During the process of learning in my own professional craft trade as a carpenter/ in TVET, i first acquire the knowledge or procedures of doing something, after acquiring knowledge the next thing is to practice it.

Practice enable me to master and retain acquired knowledge, then the next thing is to use it to solve my challenges and problems which happen from time to time. When i use knowledge gained, it means that I'm applying it to solve my problems.

Therefore, the new knowledge, skills and attitudes i acquired in this learning process have change my way of thinking and doing things, this is what referred to as changing behaviour.

Challenges,

faced during my professional practice as a carpenter, lack of portable and giant electrical powered machinery for plaining, ripping, mortising, sand papering drilling and moulding.

While at the site construction there were some new advanced technology for roofing like using metals and plastic, erecting mobile caravan, fixing roof tiles and creating a roof dormer and constructing a storey roofing etc.

Recommendation

My graduate goes to NORARD to have funded this NUCOOP program in Upper Nile University, college of technical vocational Education for teachers in Southern Sudan. And Norwegian people's Aid, Program development manager Mrs. Nina Pedersen to have released us to pursue this bachelor degree program for TVET in Malakal state.

Implementation of this technical vocational Education for Teachers in Malakal state, will surely give opportunity of training more technical professional teachers. And bring income to the state as well productive work for the community, in terms of capacity building.

Norwegian People's Aid has made a difference and creates a better future for the people of south Sudan. Since 1986, Norwegian People's Aid has been the International organization most consistently working in southern Sudan as the largest non governmental organization operating in the liberated area.Norwegian people's Aid, program in south Sudan, has four major concerns. Food security including relief aid, health care, Media, and Capacity building

Way forward

The government of Southern Sudan, and the ministry of Education, research, science and technology with the help of the non Governmental Organization should support the Norwegian University cooperation program in this learning process.

The college of technical vocational Education for teachers should have its own principles that govern the system of technical vocational Education for teachers in southern Sudan.

There is need to speed up with the construction of the hostel to avoid some in-convince during rain season and give time to students to study, research and practice the skills at night hours, and the college of technical vocational Education for teachers. Should collaborate with the vice chancellor of upper Nile University.

Chapter three PRE 1 analysis

Chapter three analyse

Documentation of my skills performance as a carpenter

The documentation of my skills performance as a carpenter/an instructor for for carpentry and joining at NPA/YVTC.

These include the following activities, competence on Safety rules to be observed both in carpentry and Joinery work, use of carpentry and joinery work shop tools and its equipments, identifying suitable materials to be used for making quanlatitive furniture e.g office chair,office desk etc.

Essential basic hand tools,

Rip saw, cross cut saw, planes e.g smoothing plane, Jack plane and try plane, try square, measuring tap, hammer, chisel etc.

How to make B O Q?

BOQ means bill of quantity, Bill of quantity, is a bill of material or a table of information that tells the requirment for a given project, it shows the item, number, name, description quantity and kind of materials.Boq, is prepared by the quantity serveyor, with a complete description and measure of the quantities,labour materials and other items.

A roof

A roof, is a construction above the walls of a building, materials used for construction of a roof can be

timber metal

Function of a roof

Is to protect the building and the occupant against rain,wind,snow and dust.

1. It provide shade and insulation against heat.
2. It keeps the interior part of a building cool in summer.
3. Designed to a accommodate all stresses encountered.
4. Designed to accept movement due to changes in temperature and moisture content.

How to erect a roof truss

1. mark the truss rafter positions on the wall plates.
2. Position the first truss rafter to the gable side of where the diagonal is.
3. Once the truss has been plumbed fix temporary stays to the rafter.
4. Fix the second trussed rafter to the first with temporary battern to the rafters and ceiling ties.
5. Fix the remaining trussed rafters in the same manner.
6. Fix diagonal braces to the underside of the rafter and wall plates.
7. Securely fix all longitudinal members.
8. Fix all remaining longitudinal.

How to construct a form work.

Is a temporary support wood used in casting reinforcement concrete or is a box in to which wet concrete can be pored and compacted.

Dead loads,

These are static load such as weight of the form work and wet concrete. The dead load on the form work due to the concrete and its steel reinforcement will become less as the concrete hardens and becomes self – supporting e.g Iron bars, spacers and beam.

Live loads,

These are loads which are imposed during the erection of the form work and the placing of concrete, they include the movement of the work-forces their materials and the equipment.

Documentation of my skills performance at site work,

How to make Bill of quantity (BOQ) for roofing materials, setting/Erecting roof truss. fitting/fixing and ceiling work.

How to make a complete door frame,

Types of joints for making door frame, type of doors and its function, materials for making ceiling board, materials for making form-work, tools for making form-work, procedures for erecting/constructing form-work, this is a brief analysis documentation of my skills performance as a carpenter/ an instructor.

Chaapter two PRE 1 analysis

Chapter two analyse

This chapter is abou my theoretical knowledge as a carpenter/an instructor for carpentry and joinery, from 2003 – 2011 at Norwegian people's Aid, Yei vocational training centre NPA/YVTC, central equatorial state Juba.

The theoretical knowledge include.

My professional craft trade as a carpenter/instructor include, Carpentry and Joinery,

Carpenter, Is a technical term used to describe craft-men who perform/practice his/her skills mainly at carpentry and joinery work.

Carpentry

Is the process of working with rough pieces of timbers which are not been planed for example, this includes. Roofing, generally fitting/fixing, form-work and ceiling work. Roofing different types of roof structures, modern and traditional ones modern roofing includes: gabled end roof, hipped, single, lean to roof, couple, and collar tie roof. Make estimate for bill of quantity.

Joinery

Is the process of making or joining two objects together/furniture? I was able to make the following furniture. Tables, Chairs, Beds, Desk/forms, Cupboards, Bookshelf, Door/window frames and fixings of some Iron mongery like pad bolts, tower bolts, hinges, drawer locks and cupboard glass.

Fitting/fixing, working experience on ceiling board,

Consider the internal span, take the dimension, align the frame work, by using a string in order to make it straight. Frame the main joist first all around the wall by nailing against the wall, take the measurement for the chipboard or ply wood, and measure according to the size of the board,Start framing the main joist by the entrance, main Joist are the long pieces of timbers which run vertical from wall to wall, Join the noggings, these are small pieces of timbers being joined horizontal to each other, Fix the chipboard or ply wood against the frame work by using ceiling nails or 1½” wire nails.

Nail the batten to cover the joints and strengthen the chipboard or ply wood.

The perspective theoretical knowledge of my professional practice as a carpenter/an instructor at NPA/YVTC

The perspective of my professional craft trade include, Introduction to carpentry and Joinery tools, materials and wood work practices, like measurement,marking,cutting,ripping,Cross cutting Planning Squaring Types of mortise and joints Gluing, assembling Cramping Sand papering Vanishing first coat the second

The perspective documentation of my skills performance as a carpenter

These include making different types of furniture like.

Stools, benches/forms, School desks, Tables, Coffee set, Round tables, Office desks,

Beds, three by six feet(3' x 6' ) single bed, four by six feet (4' x 6' ) semi medium bed, five by six feet (5' x 6') medium bed, six by six feet( 6' x 6' ) double bed, Drawer and box table bed, Chairs, office chairs, Johnny arm chairs, Sofa sets, X- Chairs, Decorated culprit Chair and mobile Chairs, Cupboards, open office cupboard, closed cupboard or shelf, Kitchen cupboard, side board, side bed and side stool, Fitting/fixing, doors/windows, drawer locks and handles glasses.

Roofing

Erecting different types of roofs/roof coverings, hipped and gabled end roof, designed model or project to be practice by the students, and estimate materials for practices the project.

Prepare cutting list for material to be used by the students.

Demonstrate and interpret to students how, or what cutting list is.

Method used, e.g group work or individual practicing.

Select suitable tools for performing the operation or work.

Demonstrate practical to students, the procedures for using tools and making furniture.