aceThe role of artificial intelligence in facilitating superwood utilization among furniture craft producers for sustainable smart manufacturing
Despite the demonstrated potential of superwood materials (engineered or modified wood products, such as densified, thermally modified, or cross-laminated timber, that exhibit enhanced strength, dimensional stability, and resource efficiency relative to conventional timber) and artificial intelligence (AI) to advance sustainable manufacturing, their adoption remains negligible among artisanal furniture producers in resource-constrained developing economies. This study investigates whether and how AI can facilita…
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By July 2026 researchers surveyed 196 furniture artisans and interviewed 30 practitioners across South-East Nigeria to examine AI-facilitated superwood use amid timber scarcity. They found adoption negligible, awareness low at 34.2% for superwood and 45.4% for AI with only 7.7% substantive AI understanding, and perceived ease of use low at M=2.87 for superwood and M=2.65 for AI
The pattern matters because perceived usefulness predicted intention but complexity, cost, unreliable electricity and internet, and cultural attachment to hardwoods blocked uptake. The authors argue AI could help via design optimization and mobile-based knowledge dissemination only after foundational knowledge, financial, and infrastructure deficits are addressed, leaving open whether the proposed CAFAISU framework would work outside this region or at scale
- Survey of 196 artisans and 30 interviews in South-East Nigeria found low awareness of superwood and AI
- Substantive AI understanding was only 7.7% and perceived ease of use remained low for both superwood and AI
- Study developed CAFAISU framework integrating knowledge ecosystems, phased implementation, and infrastructure support
Among furniture artisans in South-East Nigeria, AI-facilitated superwood utilization for sustainable manufacturing was hindered by severe knowledge deficits, low substantive AI understanding, low perceived ease of use, and unreliable electricity and internet
The rundown
The study used a convergent parallel mixed-methods design with TAM and thematic analysis, finding financial constraints, cultural attachment to traditional hardwoods, and cooperative procurement preferences alongside infrastructure gaps
Authors propose the Contextually Appropriate Framework for AI-Facilitated Superwood Utilization (CAFAISU) that sequences knowledge ecosystems, financial accessibility, sociocultural integration, and infrastructure support before phased AI implementation
Sources
- Peer-reviewedScientific Reports2026-07-11
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