Arts and Design Studies www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-6061 (Paper) ISSN 2225-059X (Online) Vol.23, 2014 6 The Contribution of Higher National Diploma (HND) Furniture Graduates in the Furniture Industry in Ghana Kennedy Newton Nutassey 1 Ebenezer Quayson 2 Isaac Agyei-Boakye 3 1.Accra polytechnic School of Engineering Department of furniture and production Email: knnutassey@aploy.edu.gh 2.Accra polytechnic School of Engineering Department of furniture and production Email: equayson@aploy.edu.gh 3 Accra polytechnic School of Engineering Department of furniture and production Email: iagyei-boakye@aploy.edu.gh Abstract The Furniture industry in Ghana indentified greater importance in HND furniture graduate. However, the expectations of the furniture companies have fall shortened by inefficient delivery of skills and technology by the HND furniture graduates. The HND furniture graduates acquired highest knowledge and skills to facilitate design and production of furniture pieces. The furniture industries in Ghana have devious ways of production of items for indoor and outdoor without specific standards practice and procedures. The aim is to access and analyze the credibility of HND furniture graduate, and the expectation of furniture industry in Ghana. The HND furniture graduates in Ghana have lost focus, and interest to associate with the furniture companies. The furniture industry lack middle level manpower, insufficient ideals, skills and technology to wheel expectation of the industries to meet customer satisfaction. Keywords: furniture industry, HND furniture graduate, performance, furniture companies 1. Introduction Furniture in general are objects that can be moved around or free standing such as table, chair, bed, wardrobes and cupboards normally for use or for ornament in a house or an offices to make it suitable for living or working condition (Adupong R. 2011) Furniture is traditionally segmented into 3 sub-sectors based upon the purchaser’s characteristics: Domestic: serving the public, mainly through retail outlets and for household use. Contract: furniture for public areas such as hotels, schools, cruise liners, hospitals, restaurants, residential accommodation, stadia and airports. Office: desks, work stations, seating, tables, cabinets and other items for the office environment. According to (Fira, 2010) In Ghana there is no clear cut definition or segmentation of the furniture industries as most companies deal in all of the types of items. According to (Akuaba bulletin 2014) proud to be a member of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) is one of Ghana's oldest and most innovative furniture companies. And designs and manufactures quality furniture for homes, educational institutions and offices as well as outdoor play equipment and builder’s joinery (doors, door frames and windows and window.) made furniture products. Tertiary processing -The manufacture of mouldings, flooring, parquetry, furniture manufacturing, window and door manufacture, veneer applications, turnery, wooden toys, handicrafts, etc (G.K.D. (Ametsistsi, et al 2008): Apart from timber, any other wood products required for the local market are produce by furniture company could be classified as follows: i. Building members such as: doors, door and window frames, flooring, parquets, and mouldings, including tang & groove members. ii. Veneer and plywood, iii. Furniture including cabinets, wardrobes, beds tables and chairs for schools, offices and homes and specialty products like poultry feed trays, crates, pallets, coffins and chop-boxes; and iv. Toys and utility products like kitchen stools and broomsticks. Most of these commonly used wood products are produced by small scale carpenters who exhibit very little specialization. Their products serve the local market and overland export to neighboring countries such as Togo, Burkina Faso and Mali. There are many deficiencies in the educational sub-sector which have affected the quality, performance and relevance of the TVET system. This has led to the failure to equip students with the requisite employable skills needed by industry. These weaknesses and deficiencies have not only created a poor image of TVET but have also reduced TVET contribution to the national development. Further state, the recent introduction of Competency- Based Training (CBT) system is to enhance relevance of technical vocational education and ensure that training is guided by competencies endorsed by industry so that TVET graduates would acquire and demonstrate skills that meet the needs and specific standards of industry,(Nsiah, 2009). According to (HND 2001) students are mandated to select or create furniture items from specific areas like: Lounge, dining room, bedroom, office, library, school, leisure/garden, kitchen, shop, transport terminal and