Selecting industrial office furniture may seem like a daunting task. When you have a long list of “to-do’s” during an office remodel, checking this one off the list doesn’t have to be stressful.
Yet selecting the right industrial office furniture requires considerations that go beyond simply looking at a picture and reading a quick description of the product. If your office has special needs, from fabric material to storage considerations, it’s important that you choose the right pieces that meet the needs of your office.
With these top 5 tips, the planning and selection process will be smooth sailing:
- Make a list of your basic needs.
- Account for additional supplies that require specialized storage.
- Assess your location.
- Consider the work you do in your office space.
- Select furniture that reflects your style.
Make A List Of Your Basic Needs
When you start thinking about furniture for your industrial environment, begin by identifying your essential requirements.
This foundational step ensures that you cater to the practical needs of your workforce, which in turn, enhances productivity and efficiency. Here are some key considerations.
- Determine how many people will be working in your space. This will help you decide on the number of desks, chairs, and workstations required.
- Understand the specific tasks and roles of your employees. For example, engineers may need drafting tables, while administrative staff might require ergonomic office chairs and desks with ample storage.
- Consider what technology is necessary. This could include computers, printers, copiers and other office machinery. Ensure you have enough power outlets and cable management solutions to accommodate these devices.
- Assess your storage requirements. Will you need filing cabinets, shelves or lockers? Do you need an industrial workbench with drawers? Proper storage solutions are crucial for maintaining an organized and clutter-free environment.
- Determine if there is a need for formal meeting rooms. These spaces should be equipped with conference tables, comfortable seating, and audiovisual equipment for presentations and virtual meetings.
- Consider open-plan co-working spaces where employees can collaborate easily. Modular laboratory furniture can be an excellent choice here, allowing flexibility to reconfigure the space as needed.
- Think about the future growth of your business. Choose furniture that can be easily added to or adapted as your team expands.
- Invest in high-quality, durable furniture that can withstand the demands of an industrial environment. This ensures longevity and reduces the need for frequent replacements.
By making a detailed list of your basic needs, you lay a solid foundation for creating a functional and efficient industrial office space. This proactive approach not only enhances the day-to-day operations but also contributes to a more organized, comfortable and productive work environment.
Account For Additional Supplies That Require Specialized Storage
Beyond office supplies, your working space may need additional storage areas.
For example, consider these questions:
- Do you need to store lab coats?
- Does your workspace use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?
- Do you have to store hazardous chemicals or substances?
- Are there any specific tools or equipment that need to be securely stored?
- Do you require temperature-controlled storage for sensitive materials?
- Is there a need for lockable storage to secure valuable items?
- Does your workspace generate or handle waste that requires proper disposal units?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may require additional storage, such as stainless steel cabinets or shelving units. You can often customize these storage solutions to include accessories like locks or are made with special materials that can withstand harsh chemicals.
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.
On the other hand, 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.
Office spaces with poor lighting may require looking into additional accessories like lighting fixtures, desk lamps and ambient lighting solutions.
Consider The Work You Do In Your Office Space
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 workspace will determine what furniture you need.
If you’re conducting chemical testing or working with higher temperatures, you must select lab countertops that 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.
Select Furniture That Reflects Your Style
Just because industrial office furniture has to withstand more extreme wear and tear than standard office furniture, it doesn't mean it has to look lackluster. Industrial workstations come in a variety of materials and colors and can be customized with accessories like open shelving, adjustable height surfaces, keyboard trays or even footrests.
Choose something that reflects your company brand and stays 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.
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 and your storage requirements, know your location and how that impacts your workspace, understand the work that will be performed, and choose something that reflects your personal style and brand.
