Gloster’s position at the forefront of the global luxury outdoor furniture market is a project that represents a major triumph; both identifying how far our brand has come, while simultaneously emphasizing the defining standard we continually strive to maintain. An essential part of this persistent pursuit are the supporting structures that allow our brand to deliver world-class products to our clients, and no structure is more important to this mission than our operations in Indonesia. As the site of our teak production & harvesting, metal factory, product manufacturing, and as a logistical nerve center, our operations in Surabaya, Indonesia act as the foundation upon which our entire brand is built. In 2023, the Gloster Newsletter will celebrate this keystone of our global operations by sharing interviews with key members of our Indonesian operation and showcasing how their contributions fit into Gloster’s global mission to be a leader in our industry.
For the second edition of our conversations with key members of Gloster’s production team in Indonesia, we connected with two essential members of our teak sourcing process: General Director Herry Suseno and Timber Sourcing Specialist Zudi Hariyanto.
Gloster: Thank you both for joining us. Can you please tell our audience a bit about yourselves?
Herry: My name is Herry Suseno. I have spent my entire 34-year career with Gloster after joining in 1988 as an Accountant Assistant. After several promotions and experiences gained in helping to build a strong organization, Gloster entrusted me with the responsibility to become General Director in 2000 and I have been in that position since then.
Zudi: My name is Zudi Hariyanto. After graduating with a degree in Industrial Technology from Muhammadiayah University in Gresik, East Java, Indonesia, I joined Gloster in 2002. After working in a few different roles with Gloster that included Production Operator in our timber department, several positions within our metal production team, and as Master of Production Data Support, I was named a Timber Sourcing Specialist 2010.
Gloster: Can you provide an overview of the processes you manage and responsibilities you have?
Herry: I am responsible for overseeing all the business operations of Gloster Indonesia: daily operations, financials, human resources, and environmental equity. Gloster’s main focus is obviously on teak production, so much of my days are spent involved in that process and making sure that our operation runs smoothly.
Zudi: As a Timber Production Specialist, my biggest responsibility is to follow the multi-step process needed to make sure the teak being harvested and used in our products is up to our standards of quality. I begin by visiting all the Gloster plantations managed by Perhutani where teak is grown, inquire about the raw material availability in Perhutani storage areas, and negotiate with each highly respected Perhutani organization and local community. After this, I work with an onsite Teak Grader to help select the teak that achieves our standard of quality to use for production. Overall, I am fully responsible for the teak procurement process, the maintenance of our quality standard, and our compliance with the laws governing teak harvesting.
Note to Reader: Perhutani is a state-owned organization that manages plantation growing facilities on the Indonesian Isle of Java. This organization has decades of experience in the sustainable management of these facilities and working in conjunction with local communities, and Gloster has partnered with them since the beginning of our Indonesian operations in 1987.
Gloster: Can you talk about Gloster’s relationship with Perhutani and how you maintain it?
Herry & Zudi: Gloster and Perhutani have had a very strong collaboration for many years. To maintain our positive relationship, we always seek to establish strong communication and make frequent visits to Perhutani-managed teak production areas, headquarters of their personnel teams, and with their executive teams. Additionally, their collaboration when Gloster acquired our own teak plantation in 2018 has been invaluable.
Gloster: What is the most important part of the teak harvesting process that you oversee?
Herry & Zudi: The most important part of the process that we oversee is working with Perhutani to ensure teak with the correct specifications of length, diameter, and quality are achieved. This allows Gloster to maximize the yield of each tree harvested and minimize our environmental impact.
What are the biggest challenges you face, and how do you and your teams work to overcome them?
Zudi: The biggest challenge we face is when we have rapid increases in demand. Teak is a popular commodity, so having a good relationship and strategy for collaboration with Perhutani is essential. Being pro-active in communication, maintaining good personal relationships, and constant communication between members of our own teams on their day-to-day reporting helps us prepare and develop strategies for any challenges.
Herry: Based on our collaboration and relationship with Perhutani, we were proud to receive an award from them last year as “The Most Valuable Teak Buyer” after purchasing the largest amount of teak from them as we have since 2016.
In your opinions, what are the best practices Gloster employs in the growing and harvesting of our teak?
Zudi: Our involvement in and integration of the whole production process after acquiring our own Teak plantation in 2018 is the best aspect of our operation.
Herry: By owning our own plantation, we are able to maintain the sustainability practices which make up the very core of Gloster’s DNA.
Missed out on our first interview with the Gloster Indonesia team? Read our conversation with Product & Development Manager Tim Cook here.
Zudi (left), Herry (right).