As our workplace has evolved, not only is the employee more technically qualified, but the workspace itself has moved in a different direction. This direction is not "cubie oriented" but technically savy. More than that, it has moved toward "a  more inspiring, versatile and functional environment" as Charlie Kane has presented in his article written in the Office Furniture and Design magazine...the April/May issue of '08.  Today's employee wants an open and free space to work in....not the narrow aisles and people close to people but a 'team' atmosphere.  A representation of that can be found in Inscape's  'Freeform"  System on this   

 page. (See above)  Note the open and very spacey application of this beautiful systems furniture line.  The economy and frugality of "putting more people in a tighter space" has been thrown out the window in lieu of several of the above advantages of the new office and new more technically advanced employee.  The case can be made that if you provide a better environment for the more technical employee, in the economics of keeping employee's longer, with a sense of loyalty and associated perks, you will enhance what you offer your customers.

Our office industry today looks tremendously different as it did even 5 years ago...ties, no ties, corner offices gone...blended, open team areas, starched shirts or crew necks, open collars, punctuality gone, company hopping (less than 2 years)....working remote sites (Global applications)...the laptop...on and on!  What hasn't changed is a smart and educated "space planner".... an expert, whether the new "Freeform system furniture from Inscape or the home office...To take advantage of the experience of a veteran and seasoned professional, don't try it yourself.....but, if you want to maximize your office furniture investment, contact someone tested and proven in this ever changing business.www.officefurnitureinspaces.com

 

While the management of the Space planning process along the lines of efficiency, good use of vertical space, strategic placement of the right furniture in the right places and other elements including current technology.... we must include a furniture manufacturer that is equally efficient in their approach to affordable manufacturing....is their such a company? Oh, but their is such a company that stands out in the market place. This company not only represents the concept of efficient manufacturing but has been recognized with a prestigious award by the Shingo folks as one of very few that have been evaluated and celebrated to hold this very special award. The company that I am referring to is Affordable Interior Systems, from the Boston area. This company has charged into the Systems furniture arena and has seized a good market share not the least of which has to do with their style and commitment to 'lean manufacturing'. As the process of Space Planning a company begins to evolve into an end product, an affordable product, and an efficient use of space....the flavor of a high tech looking systems furniture like AIS leaves its mark as a great choice amongst some very successful and famous systems manufacturers.  Cost of the product itself alongside creative applications in the laying out of the floorplan are a powerful combination when customers look back @ the finished product.

What's happened in the workplace ? Where are the monsters of chaois...called the typewriter or intercom or wires hanging off the front of the desks called "spaghetti"....those are quickly fading into the background of naustalia office past...we are developing a taste for the new guys on the block...waves of technology screaming down the old panelled hallways full of high tech speed and misunderstanding...( how does this thing work?) 5 cat-6 cat...?? What is all this doing to and for the workplace? Here are some of the new tools we are challenged to use in our workstations.l

The flat screen and flat screen monitor holders are some of the most creative, space saving devices showing up in the wprkplace...not the old 'picture tube'..12" deep a 21" wide computer monitors but flat screen monitors that are not only amazingly clear and more colorful but can be mounted into the wire grommet or "C" clamped to the back of the worksurface using an arm holding the Monitor over our worksurface, not on our worksurface...opening up all of our worksurface to use.....not only that but it gives way to maximizing our floor space using 24"d worksurfaces instead of 30"d or 36"d worksurfaces. We can translate that into raising our productivity because of more employees in the same sq footage. One way to prove that idea is to look at the front 6" of a person's desk and notice the collection of unused dinosaurs lingering on that leading edge of their desks...along with several 'wooly balls'. Several companies that have pioneered this technology bonanza and invested millions of dollars in its research and are experts in the Ergonomic science, they are: Humanscale, ISE, Intellespace, Neutral Posture...to name a few.

So when you are lagging behind in your office as technology is racing ahead contact your local ergonomics expert and seek his/her advice concerning Monitor holders and flat screens.

Many successful employers today are realizing that an investment in their office space today means increased bottom line tomorrow. Why is that? Why not an austere, 'plain jane', ordinary office space with the conventional desks and chairs seen for 20 years? Its certainly fiscally important...is it not? Several reasons for concern in using dated furniture includes the changing marketplace..perspective of the new employee...minimal loyalty, company hopping, looking for perks, their handshakes don't mean committment, the ties are gone as does much of the work ethic...especially on Fridays! In addition to those important elements (the employee is the largest part of our overhead), fad and fashion have entered the workplace along with the distinct colors that mark the chronology of the office. I also believe that what we put forth in the reception area...style, colors, shapes...gives impressions that can help land or loose a contract. Creative spaces imply.... creative minds inhabit this company..thus saying "we are very capable to managing your order or contract, mr. customer". Not finally, but in addition to those elements mentioned above...the attitude of our employees as our customers come and go from our businesses really dramatically impact for good or not so good , the return of those customers back into our doors with more company sustaining dollars..sweetening our bottom line! So our employees must be very positive/creative and thus reflect our investment in our physical assets.......current and creative office furniture! take a look at what Jason Hughes talks about in his article entitled Office Design is key to employee productivity from the San Diego Source......

 

Dave Ballard-Indoff-Omaha

Taking a common sense but creative approach to your business space and its positioning will pay off dividends. Here are the questions we need to ask relative to a successful visual.

1) What do I want my customer to see when he grabs the handle of my front door and pulls on it?

2) What will the first impression be once he looks past the front door into the space?

3) Does he have the definitive sense of activity, energy, glad to see you?

4) Did you know that for 7 out of 10 customers, the first steps to the reception or receptionist will define the bulk of the impressions they have about your company......A warm smile, engaging handshake, direct eye contact, an attitude of "can do" in a response.

5) If the reception area is small, it needs to be bright, very clean and new looking with some representation of what your company does or is either on the wall or expressed in some format. I have seen actual gears from a large motor mounted creatively into the wall with pictures of projects strategically placed...hard to miss.

6) Having living things in the reception area is always good but be careful not to over do. Having electronics mounted higher into the soffit with something the company believes in or stands for is a good idea since we are a very electronic society.

Always give great consideration to what you invest in when it comes to the most representative area of your company...."The Reception Area" . Use quality professionals to assist you in this very significant and influential place of your business.

Have you considered the fact that maximizing your vertical space, makes more efficient your cost of your business overhead...why is that you say? Understanding what vertical space is and how you can expand it makes you a much better steward of your fixed overhead.

Most of us think in terms of the square footage we are leasing as an 'unchangeable fixed cost'  but in the world of space planning, getting more office in the same space is simply good management of our fixed costs....most of us think in terms of the space that a conventional desk takes up or that a credenza uses and can't be enhanced or improved but using our available 'vertical space' is very wise and stretches our dollars.  Visualize each square foot in your office not as a square of carpet or tile but a column of vertical space 12"x12" that you are leasing that runs from the carpet or tile to the ceiling and you can put in that column all that is possible. Several furniture tools are available to do that....one is systems furniture or modular furniture born in the 70's out of a need to put more people in a smaller space. This uses vertical panels and components that are attached to those panels and climb up the vertical column of space you are leasing....example, a binder bin is storage attached to a panel above the worksurface..carrying items that would normally be put in a file on the floor. 

Another effective way to use your 'vertical space' is through the use of lateral files. Lateral files are vertical files turned sideways  designed to go potentially as high in that vertical column as needed...we seem to be limited to local regulations relative to the sprinkler heads in the ceiling and the area around them to function.  So, employing an expert savvy in the use of 'vertical space' translates into $'s saved or maximized during the normal life cycle of a business.

Have you considered your overhead as one that can be maximized financially?