bfi News

Herman Miller wins top NeoCon award

2008-06-10T11:06:00.002-04:00

Herman Miller Inc. took home the top award Monday at NeoCon for its new storage and filing system.

Herman Miller's Teneo system won Best of Competition at NeoCon, which began Monday at the Merchandise Mart in downtown Chicago. NeoCon, an annual display of new product innovations for the contract office furniture industry, runs through Wednesday.

Teneo, which also won a Gold award in its category, is designed to have a more open, fresh look and for flexibility, making it a system that's usable in a variety of settings -- from an individual office to an open environment and even in the home.

Herman Miller's Space Utilization Service Eliminates the Guesswork in Assessing and Maximizing Facility Performance

2008-06-05T16:31:00.003-04:00

Herman Miller, Inc. has created a new method for measuring and analyzing the performance of working interiors with its Space Utilization Service, a patent-pending, wireless technology developed to accurately audit the needs of individual, group, and community spaces. The company will display the system at its National Design Center in Chicago during the NeoCon World's Trade Fair, June 9-11, 2008.

Real estate is the second largest area of expense for most businesses. And as space occupancy costs continue to increase, facility managers are seeking methods to lower these expenses through improved workplace productivity and overall real estate reductions. But reliable, actionable information has been notoriously difficult to gather.

"Companies traditionally have relied on manual audits, security badge data, PC keystrokes, or phone monitoring to determine workplace occupancy, which are often incomplete or unreliable methods" says Len Pilon, director of Workplace Strategy and Facilities at Herman Miller. "Our goals for the Space Utilization Service include working with facility managers to optimize their real estate through the design of spaces that are appropriate in scale, location, and accessibility. Ultimately we can help improve employee productivity and also establish a baseline for future studies."

Developed internally by Herman Miller, the Space Utilization Service data collection hardware includes remote sensors (or "motes") and receivers that fit seamlessly into the building environment. The motes temporarily and inconspicuously attach to chairs or the underside of work surfaces and continuously capture movement data, uploading to the receivers every 10 minutes, 24-hours a day. Receivers then forward movement data to a Herman Miller database. Herman Miller then works with its customers to interpret the information and develop cost effective strategies that may help them shed unnecessary real estate, better utilize space, lower operating costs, and reduce environmental impact.

The new technology and service is already a proven winner. In an early pilot application at Hewlett Packard, the service demonstrated a dramatic difference in the quality and reliability of data when compared with traditional manual surveys of occupancy. Chris Hood, Program Manager, The HP Workplace, noted that, "HP received compelling data that highlighted the inaccuracy of 'bed checks.' The Space Utilization Service replaced inaccurate management perceptions of office use with facts to drive informed decisions." At the Corporate Real Estate Executive Network (CoreNet) summit in May 2008, using the HP experience as an illustration of its efficacy, the Space Utilization Service received the Industry Excellence Award. The inaugural award highlights corporate real estate industry performance and innovation. It also qualifies the company for the distinguished H. Bruce Russell Global Innovator's Award, which will be announced at the CoreNet Global North American Fall Summit in November.

Kris Manos, Herman Miller's vice president of North American Office and Learning Environments, notes the Space Utilization Service is a result of the company's dedication to problem-solving design. "Herman Miller's commitment to creating best-in-class solutions for its customers begins with exploring their needs, which may include better utilization of real estate. The Space Utilization Service will enable our customers to create customized environments that benefit employees and the bottom line."

Space Utilization Service studies are led by the Herman Miller Workplace Services team and typically last three weeks. Study costs are comparable to traditional data collection methods and calculated according to the size and scope of a project.

Introducing Teneo Storage Furniture by Herman Miller

2008-03-20T15:32:00.003-04:00

Herman Miller recently launched two new filing and storage lines as part of its holistic approach toward this market category.

Teneo™ storage furniture represents a new paradigm in storage, providing a broad selection of adaptable products ideal for group space, as well as individual and community spaces. Designed by Ayse Birsel and Bibi Seck, the collection features islands, carts, presentation units, shelf units, cabinets, surfaces, and within-the-workstation choices. A wide range of Materials choices--colors, veneers, unique cladding options, and customizable finishes--is available.

Tu™ filing and storage replaces today’s Quadrant® filing and storage line. Enhancements include storages cases, overfiles, bookcases and a side-facing bookcase configuration on the storage tower. Two new pull styles are being introduced: a full-width integral pull (W-pull), which matches the Meridian® standard pull in its appearance; and an anodized aluminum Teneo compatible pull (T-pull), which allows compatibility within a building.

Contact a bfi representative for more information.

Herman Miller's Creative Network

2008-02-19T10:47:00.002-05:00

Herman Miller CEO Brian Walker talks about tapping the furniture company's creative network for insights and breakthrough ideas. Read this very insightful article on Businessweek.com

You Are Only As Green As Your Supply Chain

2008-02-19T10:42:00.001-05:00

by Brian Walker

Years ago Herman Miller decided to become an advocate for the environment, both because we believed it was the right thing to do and because we saw the potential for a clear business benefit. Ever since, we've been refining our processes to put our aspirations into practice.

Our Perfect Vision campaign, launched in 2003, includes green goals such as no landfill waste, no hazardous waste, no air or water emissions from manufacturing, and the use of 100% green energy, all by the year 2020. These are stringent targets our company cannot reach without engaging over 200 materials and components suppliers in the ongoing task of greening our global supply chain.

As we've examined every aspect of our worldwide supply chain, we've learned one key lesson: A business, and the products it sells, can only be environmentally sustainable through a holistic approach to design, raw materials, production methods, packaging, shipping, recycling, and even marketing--across the entire value chain. It's far too large and complex a undertaking for any organization to go it alone and be truly effective. You know the saying, "It takes a village to raise a child." Well, it takes an entire supply chain to green a company.

Here are three things we recommend to companies working with their suppliers on the long-term goal of going green.

1. Design your products with sustainability as a core principal. At Herman Miller, we have a problem-solving, design-driven culture, so we spend a lot of time thinking about how to create our products. In 2001, when we were creating our Mirra chair, we had been working with architect Bill McDonough and chemist Michael Braungart, both leading-edge environmentalist thinkers, toward their vision of a "cradle-to-cradle" design that embraces sustainable materials in a closed-loop life cycle. As a result, we eliminated the use of a chemical called polyvinyl chloride in that chair. Now, PVC has advantages, including the fact that it is inexpensive and durable. However, PVC releases toxins during manufacturing and when it is burned. We decided not to use it and implemented that decision with the help of our suppliers. We embedded those cradle-to-cradle principals in our product development process for all new designs, beginning with Mirra.

2. Refine your goals and put them to paper. We aim to be fully sustainable by 2020, but we're holding ourselves accountable to interim goals along the way. For example, by 2010, 50% of our sales will come from products that conform to our own rigorous Design for the Environment standards, and we aim to reduce our environmental footprint by 80%. Achieving these goals requires paying attention not only to materials, including their chemical ingredients, but also to our sources of energy, to our manufacturing processes, and to our packaging. We don't want to reduce our impact in one area while ignoring it in another. Nor do we want to move our environmental impact upstream into our supply chain.

3. Embrace transparency and meaningful metrics. Our company, our customers, and our industry in general are moving inexorably toward more transparent reporting when it comes to the environment. And, like any other management issue, what gets measured gets managed. When it comes to our supply chain, several measures apply. We award points through our Supplier Quantification Process for formal environmental programs and active waste-reduction programs. We rate our suppliers according to how effectively they are working to help us reach our goals--from researching alternative materials to incorporating our measurable targets into their flow charts. And this is the crux of the issue: We're not only looking at our suppliers, but at our suppliers' suppliers.

We have 12 years and a long way to go before reaching our self-imposed deadline for our Perfect Vision mission. By looking--and forcing change--outside our company as well as inside, we believe we can achieve this goal. By following the three steps above, we believe other companies can reach their green goals as well.

Source: Harvard Business Review

Harvard Business Review Launches HBRGreen.org, a Six-Part Online Discussion About Leadership and the Environment

2008-02-19T10:40:00.000-05:00

Featured Leaders Include Herman Miller, Inc., CEO Brian Walker, Writing on the Necessity and Steps of Greening the Supply Chain

Harvard Business Review has launched HBRGreen.org, a 12-week, six-part series of online commentary and discussion that will explore best practices and new thinking in green business strategy. Contributors to the site will include Brian Walker, CEO of Herman Miller, Sir Stuart Rose, CEO of Marks & Spencer, and numerous other business and environmental thought leaders.

HBRGreen will examine how environmental issues are affecting six key business disciplines, including marketing, supply chain management, and finance. Each of the six topic discussions will lead with an essay by a green business strategy expert and include response commentary from featured contributors and from visitors to the site.

In the first discussion of the series, "Don't Bother with the Green Consumer," Steve Bishop, a global lead of Design for Sustainability of IDEO, advises marketers, "Instead of focusing on a green niche, focus on green behaviors that everyone can aspire to."

"Environmental issues aren't a fad. Climate change isn't just an emergency. Like globalization, it is a force that will shape and reshape the business landscape for decades to come," said Harvard Business Review Editor Thomas A. Stewart. "By bringing together the expertise of business leaders, HBR editors, and our community of readers, HBRGreen aims to explore new ideas and best practices so that managers are better positioned to embrace the opportunities and manage the risks of a carbon-constrained world."

On February 6, Brian Walker, CEO of Herman Miller, will lead the second conversation on "Three Steps to a Greener Supply Chain." Future lead contributors will include: Sir Stuart Rose, CEO of Marks & Spencer, Judith Samuelson, executive director of the Aspen Institute's Business and Society Program, Andrew Hoffman, the Holcim (US) Professor of Sustainable Enterprise at the University of Michigan, Nitin Nohria, the Richard P. Chapman Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, and Rakesh Khurana, associate professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School.

About Harvard Business Review
Harvard Business Review (www.hbr.org) is the leading monthly magazine of management thought and practice, with a worldwide circulation of 246,000. The magazine has 11 international editions, including editions in China, Taiwan, and an English-language South Asian edition published in India. In 2004 and 2006, the magazine was a finalist for the National Magazine Award for General Excellence.

Herman Miller C2 Climate Control Heater/Cooler Now Available for Order

2008-01-15T12:18:00.000-05:00

C2^TM Climate Control

Effective immediately, the C2 climate control device from Herman Miller is now available for order. Contact a bfi representative today.

product description

(download .pdf product sheet.)

Be warm. Be cool. C2 climate control lets you choose. This easy-to-use device lets you control the temperature in your immediate workspace. No more arguments over the thermostat. Just plug C2 into a 110-volt outlet and choose a setting that is comfortable for you. Easy to use, easy to move, and easy to adjust. How cool.

Thermal electric technology. Proven in the automotive industry, this advanced technology allows for both heating and cooling in a single unit.

Energy-efficient design. C2 uses uses less than 1.5 amps of AC current, which is approximately 90% less energy than a typical space heater, to affect the 12- to 18-inch space between the device and the user.

Heats, cools, and filters. C2 not only heats and cools, but also cleans the air. Its air filtration system is significantly better than that of a typical home furnace. The filter is GREENGUARD certified and reusable after cleaning. It will remove air pollutants as small as five microns, such as pollen, dust, pet dander, and household airborne particles.

Safe. C2 is not a space heater. There are no exposed heating coils, chemicals, or harmful emissions. Safe to run continuously, C2 has a timer that shuts the unit off after four hours. C2’s power supply is UL approved and plugs into 110v AC.

Human-centered design. Its friendly design encourages user control: C2 is easy to use, easy to move, and easy to adjust.

Herman Miller, Inc., Tops Four Categories in Contract Magazine Survey

2008-01-11T10:51:00.000-05:00

Herman Miller is the number one choice for computer support, ergonomic seating, furniture systems, and healthcare furniture, according to Contract magazine's readers. The company's ergonomic seating and healthcare furniture make a second consecutive appearance as top pick.

The selection is based on 1,000 interviews with 700 architects and designers who subscribe to Contract, as well as 300 facility professionals from a pre-qualified list provided by Aspen Media and Market Research.

Respondents were asked to provide the brand name of the three top manufacturers they consider when purchasing or recommending products in a number of categories. Brand name preferences were asked on an unaided basis.

According to the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer's Association (BIFMA), seating and furniture systems represent the two largest product categories for the industry.

The 2007 Brand Report appears in the publication's December issue.

bfi (Business Furniture, Inc.) is a New Jersey authorized Herman Miller office furniture dealer, providing office furniture and other related services in the NJ/NY area. More Info »

Herman Miller's C2 Climate Control keeps it fresh at CES

2008-01-07T10:46:00.000-05:00

Veronica Belmont from Engadget reviews the Herman Miller C2 Climate Control System at the International CES 2008 show in Las Vegas. CES is the world's largest annual Consumer Electronics Show that highlights new and upcoming electronic products.

Herman Miller buying Brandrud Furniture company

2007-12-20T11:20:00.000-05:00

Herman Miller Inc. said it's buying Brandrud Furniture Inc., which makes health care furnishings, for an undisclosed price. Read press release.

Do you need a cube makeover?

2007-12-14T11:19:00.000-05:00

Is your office workstation boring? Bring it to life with a cubicle makeover. Wired.com posts an amusing article, Fantastic Fixes Help Your Sad, Pathetic Cubicle . The article is about the book, Cube Chic, by Kelley L. Moore, where she presents 22 whimsical workspace makeovers, from the Nap Cube to the Cubism Cube. There are several extreme makeover photos which unless you work for Google or Yahoo, I'm not sure your boss would appreciate. My favorite is the Nap Cube with the bed beneath the workstation.

Read article

Herman Miller, Inc., Earns 2007 WasteWise Gold Achievement Award for Smart Packaging

2007-12-14T10:42:00.000-05:00

Herman Miller has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the 2007 WasteWise Gold Achievement Award for its ongoing commitment to reduce transport packaging.

The company has reduced its cardboard and plastic packaging by more than 50 percent, a result of shipping many of its products in bulk, securely enclosed in reusable blankets.

"Finding smarter ways to ensure our products reach the customer intact is just one aspect of our environmental commitment," says Paul Murray, director of Environmental Health and Safety at Herman Miller. "We are committed both to integrity in our deliveries and reducing our environmental footprint."

This is Herman Miller's seventh WasteWise award since the program's introduction in 1994. The company also was recognized as Partner of the Year in 1999 and Program Champion in 2000 and 2001.

Gold Achievement Award recipients were announced at the annual WasteWise conference in Washington, D.C., on November 15, 2007.

Herman Miller's Leaf Chosen as a "Best Invention of 2007" by TIME Magazine

2007-12-14T10:30:00.000-05:00

The Leaf Personal Light from Herman Miller, Inc., has been feted by TIME Magazine as one of the Best Inventions of the 2007. The LED (light emitting diode) table-top light was noted for its energy efficiency and sleek design.

Leaf is a result of collaborative engineering and design development between Herman Miller and Yves Behar's San Francisco-based studio, fuseproject. Its 20 LEDs utilize 40 percent less energy than a 13-watt compact fluorescent bulb.

Richard Stengel, managing editor of TIME, defines the selected products as the coolest stuff from the most innovative minds in the world. He adds, "When you're dealing with complex technology, you can't overestimate the importance of good, clean design."

The Best Inventions of the Year appear in the publication's November 12, 2007, issue.

Introducing Casbah by National

2007-11-02T17:55:00.000-04:00

National Office Furniture's newest line of office furniture is called Casbah. The Casbah series includes desks, storage units, conference solutions, tables, filing and bookcases. Its unique details include recessed facade worksurface detail, three pull styles in two colors, arc modesty panels, tambour door, and pop-up grommet with the interlink system. Casbah will be available starting November 19th.

21st-Century Work Habitats

2007-10-19T10:01:00.000-04:00

A new Research Summary by Herman Miller. 21st-Century Work Habitats
Technology gives people mobility so they can work anywhere. Collaboration and the innovation it can spur call for places where people can come together. Attracting skilled, talented people is critically important, but so is creating spaces that keep them engaged. Multiple generations--each with its own ideas about how to work--share the same workplace. As these and other realities shape 21st-century work habitats, the industry that designs them faces new challenges. For some perspective on how these challenges are being met, Herman Miller spoke with four Chicago-based designers from the architecture and design firm Gensler. In this wide-ranging discussion, they speak about what they're experiencing and what they foresee.

wp_21st-Century_Work_Habitats.pdf (43KB PDF)

NeoCon East Photo Gallery

2007-10-18T15:11:00.000-04:00

This years NeoCon East trade fair for interior design and facilities management was held in Baltimore, Maryland on October 17-18 2007. We've put together a collection of photos on Flickr where you can see, download and share photos with your clients, colleagues and friends. View our NeoCon photos on Flickr! and be sure to post comments on our Flickr pages.

Herman Miller offers chairs on 'Second Life', Goes after Knockoffs

2007-10-12T09:34:00.000-04:00

Herman Miller has ventured into the realm of virtual community, bringing their "authorized" designs to Second Life in an attempt to address the issues of illegitimate knockoffs. See their press release.

Basically, for a limited time, Herman Miller is offering SL residents free trade-ins on any fake Aerons - or on some of its other iconic products - for an authentic SL Aeron. If you don't have a fake, you can buy an Aeron for a small price.

Residents who have been creating and selling Herman Miller knock-offs up, however, are getting a less friendly offer from the company:

"[W]e've contacted those parties and informed them of our trade dress protections, copyrights and trademarks they are infringing, asking politely but firmly that they cease and desist," says the firm's spokesman, "Some have complied, others have countered with proposed partnerships, and some have yet to respond."

It will be interesting to follow this intellectual property rights showdown in the real world and to see of other companies will follow suit.

Herman Miller, Inc., Again Featured Among Industry Leaders on Information Week 500

2007-09-25T10:06:00.000-04:00

Herman Miller has been recognized by Information Week for the fifth consecutive year as one of the country's most technologically advanced companies in the manufacturing industry.

The company placed 10th among all manufacturers and received an overall ranking of 149th. It remains the highest ranking contract office furniture manufacturer.

The Information Week 500 was launched in 1988 to identify and honor the nation's most progressive users of information technology. Companies must earn at least $500 million in annual revenue to participate in the review process.

Candidates also are asked to complete a detailed application that examines key IT strategies. The responses are evaluated, weighted, and combined into a total score, serving as the basis for the ranking.

Additional details about the Information Week 500 may be viewed online

Play the NeoCon Memory Game

2007-08-04T21:52:00.000-04:00

Bored? Play the classic game of Concenntration, but with pictures from NeoCon. Just enter the word neocon2007 in the box that appears when the game loads. Click to play.

NeoCon 2007 Flickr Gallery

2007-08-01T15:33:00.000-04:00

This year's trade fair for interior design and facilities management was held in Chicago's Merchandise Mart from June 9 to June 11. We've put together a collection of photos on Flickr where you can see, download and share photos with your clients, colleagues and friends. View our NeoCon photos on Flickr! »

Sitting here … in my new Aeron

2007-07-16T11:14:00.000-04:00

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes posts a follow up to his article on ZDnet's blog titled "Is the Aeron the best office chair?". We're not suprised by his conclusion. We know the Aeron chair is the best chair. If you work in the NJ area, contact us to buy one of these. We are an authorized Herman Miller dealer so the 12 year warranty will apply if you buy the Aeron chair from bfi.

Leaf Personal Light Named "Best of Consumer Products" by I.D. Magazine

2007-06-19T10:37:00.000-04:00

The Leaf personal light from Herman Miller, Inc., has received the much-coveted I.D. magazine Annual Design Review "Best of Consumer Products" award. Over 400 entries were submitted to the competitive category, which highlights sustainability, innovation, and ease of use.

Introduced in 2006, Leaf is an LED (light emitting diode) table-top light--a result of collaborative engineering and design development between Herman Miller and Yves Behar's San Francisco-based studio, fuseproject.

Leaf's design encourages the human senses to become engaged by allowing the user to choose the intensity and color of light. Additionally, Leaf's LEDs consume less than eight to nine watts of power, carry a lifespan of over 60,000 hours at the full-power setting, and cut energy use by 40 percent compared to a 13-watt compact fluorescent bulb.

Jurors hailed Leaf as a technological breakthrough, noting its contribution to energy efficiency and sustainability.

"It looks beautiful," said juror Paul Priestman. "And any beautiful design that uses less energy is a good thing."

Approximately 2,000 entries were submitted to eight categories for the 53rd annual design competition. Award recipients are featured in the magazine's July/August 2007 issue.

What to consider for your "out of the office" office

2007-06-18T09:58:00.000-04:00

If you're lucky enough to work outside a traditional office, congratulations! But now what? Choosing the most productive spot--cafe, library, bookstore, home--can be complicated. Find out more. Read this issue of Jugglezine.

Jugglezine is sponsored by Herman Miller, where great minds frequently ponder things like alternative workstyles.

Convia and C2 Sweep Best of NeoCon Workplace Technologies Category

2007-06-12T11:11:00.000-04:00

Herman Miller swept the Workplace Technologies category of the Best of NeoCon competition on Monday, with Convia Programmable Infrastructure capturing Gold and the C2 personal climate control device winning the Silver award.

The awards were presented at the opening of the 2007 NeoCon World's Trade Fair at Chicago's Merchandise Mart, running June 11-13.

Discover NeoCon 2007 Convia is distributed by Chicago-based Convia/A Herman Miller Company, and C2 is part of The Be Collection, a new collection of accessories introduced at NeoCon.

Herman Miller marketing alliance partners Baker Manufacturing and Brandrud also won Gold awards at the Best of NeoCon competition. Baker's NEXT table series won in the Height-Adjustable Worksurfaces category, and Brandrud's Pause won Gold in Healthcare Seating.

The Office Furniture Dealers' Association also announced its annual awards at the opening of NeoCon, with Herman Miller winning in the key categories of products and technology.

Put an End to Workers' #1 Office Complaint

2007-06-12T10:32:00.000-04:00

If you work in an office building, it's probably happened to you, especially in the summer. The air conditioning kicks in and suddenly your workspace feels more like a meat locker than a place of business. Meanwhile, just a few feet away from you, someone else is complaining that's it's just "too hot in here". It turns out you're not shivering or sweating it out alone.

A survey by the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) shows being too hot or too cold is the number one complaint in workplaces, beating even gripes about computers, workspace, noise and bathroom facilities. But now furniture company Herman Miller may have finally come up with an environmentally friendly answer to the problem that literally blows hot and cold.

It's called the C2. It weighs about a kilogram, it's the size of a kettle and it sells for around $300. It's a kind of desktop environmental regulator which Herman Miller claims can lower the temperature by about 13 degrees or raise it by 20-30 degrees within six inches of the machine. It's also said to use 90 percent less energy than an average space heater and is fully recyclable.

It can potentially solve the dilemma of the single worker who sits under a vent and always feels that draft, while everyone else is perfectly comfortable. "(Maybe) something like this could bring that person into the comfort zone," suggests the IFMA's Donald Young. "It's light, it's portable. I'm not aware of any devices quite like this one."

The product will be available in this summer. It's being introduced this week at NeoCon trade show. It's sure to be - pardon the expression - a hot seller! If you live in the NJ area, you can order this unit from bfi at 908.355.3400 or visit http://www.bfionline.com.