the importance of correct furniture specifications - alan bennett - fira

SPECIFYING OFFICE FURNITURE

Alan Bennett

Specifier Training Manager

NATIONAL FURNITURE SPECIFICATIONS

IMPORTANCE OF CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS

Specifier ProblemsSquare peg – Round hole

Supplier ProblemsA level playing field

EXAMPLE: Product Specified

415g metal tin Heinz Beans

415g metal tin Heinz Beanz

(with pork sausages)

EXAMPLE: Product Supplied

Heinz supply 15 types of 415g beans for the UK market, here are my favorites

Even with Pork Sausages you can specify 8 !

Current Problems

Tenders that specify misleading or inappropriate standards

and requirements cause problems.

Both for tendering authorities and suppliers, resulting in:

• Loss of time • Higher costs• Wasted effort • Inferior quality• Non-conformance• Liability/Legal Challenge

Current Problems

This always adds up to costing MONEY

Solution

Specifiers need:

• Access to clear and concise advice for tender creation

• Access to accurate information on current requirements

• Access to the correct and current furniture standards

• NATIONAL FURNITURE SPECIFICATIONS

BenefitsFor Specifiers:• Understand the issues and requirements

• Save time and money in preparing tenders

• Save time and money in reviewing submissions

• Better products that are value for money and fit for purpose

For Manufacturers and Suppliers:• Better understanding of the specifiers’ needs

• Save time and money in responding to tenders

• Better chance of success for more responsible manufacturers

Process for todayThis Afternoon:• We will show you that specifying furniture can be

made easy• We will demonstrate a step by step guide to the

perfect specification

• However; to get to that point we have a series of important and useful topics to understand

Process for todayNext:• James Bell will talk about sustainably manufactured furniture

• Tristine Hargreaves will talk about Flammability for contract furniture

• Levent Caglar & Sukhneet Assee will talk about how the office environment, technology and new ways of working demands can be met.

• They will then demonstrate the ergonomics associated with a task chair

• Paul Soley & Sue Mann will host a Tour of our Testing Labs

• Then we have a 45 minute break for Lunch

Any questions?