This article was originally emailed as our monthly eBulletin at 11:30 on 09/11/2016. You can view older eBulletins here and register to receive them monthly.
INTEGRATING STANDARD & BESPOKE SEATING:
Providing bespoke chairs for individuals with musculoskeletal problems continues to be a core part of our business but, as our larger scale project business evolves, we have been working with clients for greater integration of standard and bespoke offerings. This is particularly important when budgets are constrained.
One key way of approaching this is with our Capsule Collection (CC) approach. Put simply, a CC includes a small, medium and large model of one chair using three different backs and three different seats. Crucially, these elements are all interchangeable. This creates the potential for nine different variants, all at the same price and all with independent seat and back adjustability, inflatable lumbar support and seat slide as standard.
Add a few key optional extras such as neckrest, coccyx cutout and a choice of armrests and the CC portfolio offers a wide mix of rapidly deployed, quick-fix solutions which will address a high proportion of individual needs. Inevitably, there will always be personnel who are outside the dimensional norms or have more complex requirements and, for these cases, it is easy to implement an escalation process to accommodate them (we have been doing that for over 20 years!).
Choosing one or more models of such a CC as your principal operator chair simplifies procurement and provides an even more cost-effective capability because standard chairs can be modified on site by swapping seat or back pads or adding an option. This methodology has proved particularly popular in the public sector.
Contact us for more information.
OUR SYSTEMS VALIDATED:
October was a busy month for system reviews. Both our ISO9001/14001 Integrated Management System and our Investors in People Gold status were due for two-day inspections and renewal. The ISO IMS was renewed without any non-conformances, or even any advisories, and the IiP inspection scored us even higher than 3 years ago (as we hoped!). For us, these are not just ‘plaques on the wall’ but external validation of our organisational DNA, reflecting the hard work and commitment of our excellent team.
NEW OCCUFIT CATALOGUE:
Our portfolio of medical, healthcare and industrial seating products has been extended significantly in recent months and our new PDF catalogue can now be downloaded here. It shows all the variants of key models – more than 170 in total – and includes answers to many of the most common questions such as key dimensional data, upholstery options and warranty information.
ORGATEC:
My Orgatec visit this year was somewhat disrupted by a cancelled flight and resultant delay on the way out. However, I did get round all the halls with more than 32,000 steps recorded on my FitBit! Sit-stand furniture is now (finally) mainstream and only the Chinese frame manufacturers were really making it an issue. Of our existing supply partners, the Sofi Mesh chair was the most significant new introduction. I shall blog a more comprehensive report after my holiday.
Osmond Ergonomics 