Selecting industrial office furniture may seem like a daunting task, especially when it’s just one "to do" among many that you’ve been asked to complete during an office remodel. But, rest assured, it doesn't have to be stressful.
With these top 5 tips, the planning and selection process will be smooth sailing.
1. Make a list of your basic needs.
When you start thinking about furniture for your industrial environment, start with the basics. How many people will be working in your space and what items are necessary for them to do their job effectively? Do you need a printer or copier in your office, maybe a coffee station? Will there be a need for meeting areas or co-working spaces?
Architects and designers call this process programming. For a list of basic programming questions, you can check out this questionnaire from the state of Texas.
2. Account for files and supplies
A major part of the overall programming process is the consideration of filing and storage needs. Files and supplies can take up a decent amount of space in any office environment, even an industrial work area.
Do you need to store lab coats, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) or tools? If so, this requires storage cabinets or shelving units.
Do you produce work orders or have a need to store archival files? If so, then filing cabinets - either free standing or under worksurface - will be required as a part of the overall furniture layout.
3. Assess your location
Will your industrial office space be in a newly constructed building or an existing facility? Existing structures may need to be retrofitted with additional power or data drops, and industrial office furniture might need to be planned around existing power and data access points.
New construction offers more flexibility when planning for new furnishing and equipment. Another concern with older facilities is access. Does the building have a freight elevator and doorways wide enough to accommodate your new industrial office furniture?
In addition to assessing the facility as a whole, take a look at the space you plan to accommodate. Is there any natural light? Will your new work spaces face the north or the south? This is an often-overlooked planning consideration. South facing windows can cause glare and fluctuations in interior temperature. Window treatments or architectural additions may be necessary to facilitate employee productivity and comfort.
4. Choose Furniture that works for your needs
This may be the most important consideration when selecting new industrial office furniture. The type of work you and your employees will be doing in your new office space will determine what furniture you need.
If you’re conducting chemical testing or working with higher temperatures, you must select appropriate surface materials to prevent any damage or contamination. If you’re putting together heavy equipment, the size of the workbench and the required accessories will change. If the equipment is heavy, a heavy-duty industrial workbench may be required. These benches will have up to a 5,000 lb. weight load capacity.
If your business is growing at a rapid pace, modular workstations are an ideal solution to the growing need for additional workers. The modular approach allows for workstations to be easily added, removed or reconfigured as business needs change.
Other accessories such as work surfaces, shelving, overhead cabinets and lighting can be added to workstations in a variety of materials and sizes to accommodate different work styles and employee needs.
5. Select furniture that reflects your style and has a consistent design
Just because industrial office furniture has to withstand more extreme wear and tear than standard office furniture doesn't mean it has to look lackluster. Industrial work stations come in a variety of materials and colors and can be customized with accessories like open shelving, adjustable height surfaces, key board trays or even footrests.
Chose something that reflects your personal style as well as your company brand and stay consistent throughout the facility. Not only does this create a uniform look and feel in the work environment, but it allows for easier reconfiguring and adding on in the future – as the colors and materials will be the same.
Don't overthink it!
At the end of the day, choosing the right furniture for your industrial space is simply about considering your employee’s needs and preferences. Consider the basics, know your location, understand the work that will be performed and chose something that reflects your personal style and brand.
