Envirotech Office Envirotech Office
Search
  • Expertise
    • Case Studies
    • Sustainability
    • Vendors
    • Blog
    • Returning to the Workplace
    • Testimonials
  • Products
    • Work From Home
    • Back to Work Solutions
    • Office CHAIRS/SEATING
    • Cubicles / Workstations
    • Reception
    • Collaborative Areas
    • Benching
    • Tables
    • Office Desks / Executive Suites
    • Cafés
    • Accessories
  • Brands
    • Haworth
    • Herman Miller
    • Knoll
    • Teknion
    • Steelcase
  • Workplace Wellness
  • Services
    • Planning and Design Layout
    • Project Management
    • Delivery and Installation
    • Moving and Relocation
    • Disaster Recovery
    • Office Furniture Leasing
    • Office Furniture Rental
  • Liquidation
  • Contact

Home / Blog / Standardardized Office Furniture Program – Guideline Tips

View Quote Request

Standardardized Office Furniture Program – Guideline Tips

Published August 31, 2016 in Office Design, Office Furniture

Standardized Office Furniture Program Guide Tips

Creative & budget-friendly tips to getting the most out of your standardized office furniture program.

The purpose of establishing a standardized office furniture program is to create a reference guide for managers and purchasing agents to follow when deciding on what furniture to acquire for their work environment. This can include desks, chairs, conference tables, reception area furniture, filing/storage cabinets, benching systems, cubicles, and may even include some decorative accessories such as wall art.

Why have a standardized office furniture program?

The goal of standardized office furniture guidelines is to empower individual departments or employee groups to be able to plan their workspace in a creative and cost-effective way while still meeting the needs of the organization; such as compliance with various regulations (i.e. health & safety), workplace efficiencies, ergonomics, quality levels, environmental standards, and brand identity.

Typically the office furniture standard guide is created in partnership with the Interior Designer and the Office Manager/Owner of an organization following a workspace remodelling or move.  The Interior Designer will work with office furniture companies and other manufacturers/distributors to provide the information they need to develop the plan and create a product reference guide for the office manager/purchasing agent.

It is usual for larger companies, who have a global presence or multiple locations, to use a standardized office furniture program. Even though small-medium sized organizations with a single location do not have a full program, there is some value in adopting elements of the guide for office planning and design guidance as they scale and build their business.

Challenges of having a standard for office furniture at the workplace

Even though there are some benefits of creating a standard to follow when buying office furniture, there are some challenges.  The standard is meant as a reference guide, stating that there are flexibilities built in, in some areas.  It is understandable that certain sections of the program where mandatory requirements must be adhered to because of safety or building code regulations have zero tolerance for discrepancies.  However, buying from a single-sourced supplier, in a particular colour, and in an exact size, may not be the best solution for every situation.  There could be opportunities where a dealer, not listed on the vendor list, can offer the same, comparable, or possibly better product. There might be added value including cost savings, faster delivery, and more environmentally-friendly (i.e. purchased locally, more recycled materials used, re-purposed product has a lower carbon footprint, etc.).

Be Creative! Get the most out of your Standardized Office Furniture Guide!

Know your Program!

Be familiar with what you can and cannot do. What items are mandatory to meet specific requirements such as building codes or government regulations? Where can you build the case to offer another option other than the one outlined in the guide?  Are there guidelines referencing how and what you can buy that are generally stated, allowing you to think outside the box?  Is the reference guide you have the most recent version; is there any updates that are being considered in the near future?

Online research is helpful

There is so much information online now that finding information about product options, specifications, and availability are at your fingertips. Most office furniture manufacturers have white papers or articles offering information on what to consider when looking for office furniture, as well as documents showing sizes and material specifications for their products. Some office furniture companies, Interior Designers, Architects, and Real Estate firms also offer insights on their blogs to assist in helping understand how to plan and optimize a workspace.  Envirotech Office Furniture offers insights on topics such as ergonomics, office design, wellness, and sustainability.

Talk to the Experts

If you are new to the program, talk to other department managers who have experience working with the guide.  Talk with procurement to gain added tips on how to best use the reference guide.  If you can’t find a solution within the guide, or if after doing your online research you find there are other options available, collect more information by contacting the organization where you found a solution.  Envirotech workspace planners often work with companies that have standardized office furniture programs to help them find office furniture solutions delivered faster and within, or below, budget.

Being creative within standardized office furniture guidelines

Case Study: The head office of an organization was standardized to buy new Steelcase product.  With their business growing, they were ready to open a few new locations.  They needed office chairs and workstations. The company wanted to still buy Steelcase office chairs, but they learned that the specified new chairs were also available to purchase as pre-owned at Envirotech.  The pre-owned Steelcase chairs would be significant cost savings and the product could be delivered faster.  The only challenge was the colour wasn’t exactly the same as what was in head office.  Since the furniture was for different locations, they found out that having a different colour for the other locations wouldn’t be a problem.   For workstations, the company was able to purchase remanufactured Haworth premise workstations that were sized very close to the Steelcase product and the difference wasn’t a problem for the space.

The company saved money, saved time, and still worked within the mandatory specifications of the standardized office furniture program.

Here are some examples of standardized office furniture programs
  • http://www.pws.gov.nt.ca/pdf/publications/officest.pdf
  • https://architect.nd.edu/assets/149153/work_space_and_furniture_standards_december_2014_revision.pdf
  • https://www.mcgill.ca/buildings/files/buildings/mcgill_january_2014_draft_standards_de_mobilier_eng.pdf

Categories

  • News & Events
  • Office Accessories
  • Office Design
  • Office Furniture
    • Desks & Suites
    • Meeting Rooms
    • Seating & Chairs
    • Workstations
  • Office Real Estate
  • Uncategorized
  • Workplace Wellness

Email Subscription

Want to receive email notifications for our blog posts?

Tags

acoustics announcement Architects artwork Awards budget Canadian Chamber of Cmmerce CEU Checklist Christmas Circadian Rhythm colour Creativity cubicle cycling Desk desks Disaster Recovery Earth Day ergonomic chairs Ergonomics events exercise filing health and wellness holiday Interior Designers LEED lighting Office Party Productivity recycling remanufactured research Sit-Stand sustainability tips Toronto Trends Video waste audit WELL Standard windows winter workspace

Archives

  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017

Explore our New and Used Office Furniture

Envirotech provides a seamless mix of name brand new and used office furniture products including: Cubicles, Office Desks, Office Chairs, Filing Cabinets and more to build modern workspaces. Our unique line of customizable remanufactured / refurbished office cubicles and chairs help companies minimize investment and maximize environmental sustainability. For more information please click on a product category of interest below:

Work From Home
Back to Work Solutions
Used, remanufactured chairs and seating
Office CHAIRS/SEATING
Create focused, quiet cubicles for your employee workstations
Cubicles / Workstations
Create a lasting first-impression with beautifully designed reception areas
Reception
Trendy collaborative areas for meeting, brainstorming and creativity
Collaborative Areas
Bench workspaces are a refreshing alternative to conventional cubicles
Benching
Conference tables, training tables, sit-stand tables or free standing tables
Tables
Executive desks for private offices
Office Desks / Executive Suites
Café furniture for comfortable break rooms
Cafés
Desk accessories, monitor stands, keyboard stands, whiteboards
Accessories

Pick up and Delivery of Office Furniture in Toronto, Mississauga and all of North America!

Envirotech provides fast turnaround and economical shipping to Toronto, Mississauga, Kitchener, Waterloo, Ottawa and all of North America. Contact us today and see how Envirotech can help you customize a dynamic workspace that is right for your company.

Sign Up for our E-mail Newsletter

Thinking About a New Future?

Career Opportunities
Envirotech Office Envirotech Office
  • Expertise
    • Case Studies
    • Vendors
    • Blog
    • Workplace Wellness
    • Sustainability
    • Careers
    • Warranty
    • Privacy
  • Products
    • Work From Home
    • Back to Work Solutions
    • Office CHAIRS/SEATING
    • Cubicles / Workstations
    • Reception
    • Collaborative Areas
    • Benching
    • Tables
    • Office Desks / Executive Suites
    • Cafés
    • Accessories
  • Services
    • Planning and Design Layout
    • Project Management
    • Delivery and Installation
    • Moving and Relocation
    • Disaster Recovery
    • Brokering and Liquidation

Contact

Envirotech Office Systems
7345 East Danbro Crescent
Unit B
Mississauga, ON
L5N 6P8 Canada
Tel:
1.800.411.6585

Social

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube