Industrial Task Seating: Why Durability Matters for the Lowest Total Cost of Ownership

For 20 years, ergoCentric has been committed to providing the lowest total cost of ownership in the industry – not the lowest price, or the coolest looking chairs, although both price and aesthetics are important.

Total Cost of Ownership is an “estimate of all direct and indirect costs associated with an asset or acquisition over its entire lifecycle.”

Providing the lowest total cost of ownership is the result of a continuous effort to help the customer reduce every cost that relates to the purchase and use of their task seating.

The upfront price of a task chair is only a small portion of the total cost of the chair. Prior to the initial purchase, some questions need to be asked.

  • What is my potential administration cost for repair and maintenance?
  • Is the labor cost included in the manufacturers’ warranty?
  • What is the cost of making changes to chairs to accommodate changes in employees or employee needs?
  • Is there a cost for fitting special needs employees with customized chairs?
  • Is training on the proper usage available? What is the cost?
  • What productivity increases can be anticipated?
  • Will lost time claims be reduced?

Employers understand the concept of lowest total cost of ownership and life cycle costs. However, many have not taken the time to understand all the costs relating to task seating over time, or they assume all office seating suppliers are the same. As a result of the life cycle cost analysis that is applied to new computer systems, for example, it’s not always applied to the purchase of new task seating.

Task chairs affect productivity in the same way computer systems do and therefore deserve the same kind of cost-benefit analysis.

Bundling Furniture Purchases

There was a time when a case could be made for one stop shopping. Not anymore. There are a number of variables in creating an ergonomically friendly workstation, with task seating being at the top of the list. Task seating has an enormous impact on the health/welfare and productivity of employees.  To purchase based on volume pricing or convenience just doesn’t make economic sense when one applies Lowest Total Cost of Ownership.

Given the huge impact task seating has on the health and productivity of employees, task seating should always be separated in the selection and tender processes from other furniture that is purchased. It is too important to be an afterthought and can end up costing far more than may be saved by the perceived efficiencies of one stop shopping or volume pricing.

Ergonomists and Interior Designers

The advice of professional ergonomists is crucial. Ergonomics is an intensive course of study, requiring a four year university degree and continuing education, and yet many corporations do not seem to appreciate the value ergonomists can bring to their bottom line. An ergonomist will apply their skill to lessen the impact on the human body that is caused by repetitive and excessive physical stress – essentially they ensure tools, machines, and other equipment optimize human well-being and overall system performance.

Interior design is a multi-faceted profession in which creative and technical solutions are applied within a structure to achieve a built interior environment. These solutions are functional, enhance the quality of life and culture of the occupants and are aesthetically attractive. Designs are created in response to and coordinated with code and regulatory requirements and encourage the principles of environmental sustainability.

When it comes to task seating we feel the advice of an ergonomist should be blended with the sills of the professional interior designer to ensure that the end user gets the lowest total cost of ownership.

Purchasing the Right Chair

While purchasing task seating may seem like a simple task – ” a chair is a chair” – it is important to consider the total cost of ownership and long-term ramifications of the chair being purchased, both from a financial and ergonomic point of view. Seating can so greatly affect the health and safety of the workforce that it should be considered separate from other office furniture purchases in order to properly evaluate all options and price points. To do this, the assistance of professional ergonomists in tandem with interior designers is often the best choice to balance long-term health benefits with aesthetics.

About ergoCentric

At ergoCentric Seating Systems, their sole mission and focus is to design and manufacture the best ergonomic chairs in the world.

Working closely with ergonomists and health practitioners to continuously improve and refine their chair designs, ergoCentric Seating Systems offers a wide range of aesthetically pleasing task, executive, guest and stackable seating for the office environment.

ergoCentric’s industrial and high-tech seating meets the specialized requirements of factory, laboratory, ESD, and Cleanroom settings.

Seating for your increasingly diverse workforce

Our workforce is changing. Immigration, an aging population, the need to accommodate disabilities and an increase in sizes make it impossible for one chair, no matter how adjustable, to fit every person.

ergoCentric Seating Systems are ergonomically designed to accommodate 100% of your diverse workforce. In addition to making the most adjustable chairs on the market, modularity is a key component of ergoCentric’s business model.

Comfort, health, and productivity

The human body was not made for sitting. Lack of proper support while seated adds stress to the body, which over a period of time, can lead to muscle fatigue, circulatory problems and even spinal injuries. A proper ergonomic chair provides the support so essential to your health and the comfort you need to be productive.

Recommended by ergonomists and health care practitioners to reduce stresses caused by the seated posture, ergoCentric is also the first company to have its chairs recognized by the Canadian Physiotherapy Association.

Browse ergoCentric Chair Options

Production Automation carries the full line of ergoCentric chairs on our website. Click any of the links below to start shopping.

  • INDUSTRIAL: Seating that keeps you comfortable even in harsh industrial environments, selected ergoCentric standard fabrics stand up to 1,000,000 double rubs for added wear resistance.
  • ESD: ESD (electrostatic dissipative) seating provides superior ergonomic comfort and modular design. Virtually every part of their ESD chairs is grounded to the base to assure continuity.
  • CLEANROOM: Made from the highest quality materials and components, every cleanroom chair is inspected before it is shipped to ensure the highest quality.
  • CLEANROOM/ESD:  Combination seating is available for environments that require a chair with both an ESD and cleanroom option. Cleanroom chairs meet air cleanliness specs for Class 100.
  • OFFICE CHAIRS: We put the best basic models of each type of ergoCentric office chair on our site, with the most popular accessories. We can quote ANY chair that ergoCentric offers.

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Mel Meadows

Mel Meadows

Mel Meadows is a product specialist with over 14 years of experience. She’s a central source of expertise for thousands of industrial and critical-class products featured on the Production Automation web store. By working directly with manufacturers, Mel deciphers technical documentation and outlines product use in real-world environments. View her profile to learn more about proper techniques, protocol, and product usage in both industrial and cleanroom facilities.

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