Scoring Suppliers of Modular Office Furniture Systems
When it comes to purchasing systems furniture, facility managers find that one thing they do not lack is choice of suppliers. The task can be eased somewhat by becoming familiar with what to look for in systems furniture then seeking suppliers that offer not only product but ongoing support ranging from office floor plan designs through furniture installation and performance guarantees over the life of the system.
"Suppliers in this case are defined as systems furniture manufacturers, not their dealers or distributors," says Mark Bassil, co-founder and vice president of MAiSPACE, a Mt. Olive, NJ, based manufacturer of modular office furniture systems. "All manufacturers have dealer or distributor networks, and because they are fewer in number the evaluation task is somewhat simplified."
Before starting the search, companies planning new or renovated office spaces should have a clear idea of what they expect from their supplier and spell these expectations out in their request for proposals (RFPs), Bassil says. They should also have a budget bogey and possibly some wiggle room where negotiations can take place as the project moves forward.
"These steps are fairly standard in the purchasing decision process," Bassil says. "The difficulty comes in evaluating suppliers whose products on the surface might appear to be quite similar. Many of these suppliers have been in the office furniture business for years, and have names that are well-known across the industry. This can contribute to a purchaser's 'comfort factor'. Scoring suppliers," he says, "requires more than comfort. It requires an in-depth knowledge of the support a supplier provides before, during and after the installation in addition to knowledge of its product."
As a "before" example Bassil cites the MAiSPACE professional in-house design team to produce the best and most cost-effective layout not only to satisfy customers' current staffing demands, but also to plan ahead. "Our designers understand facility issues and employ the most appropriate product applications and space planning layouts," he says. "This entails the use of the latest versions of AutoCAD and GIZA specifying software to achieve furniture and floor plans that are virtually fault free. Related to this are accurate detailed specifications, product lists and installation drawings."
During the installation process MAiSPACE through its own, or its nationwide network of dealer and distributor professionals, provides on-site supervision including coordinating any last-minute changes desired by the customer. "One of the advantages of systems furniture is its ability to accommodate changes up front and down the road," says Bassil. "While floor plans may be agreed upon in advance, last-minute adjustments are not uncommon during installations. Our objective is to make these as stress free as possible for our customers."
Purchasers should also feel confident that suppliers stand by their products over the life of the installation. "Lifetime warranties and guarantees against obsolescence are as much a part of the sales agreement as the products themselves," Bassil states. These are key elements to be covered in RFPs issued by savvy facilities managers."
Product Knowledge
From a construction standpoint, the MAiSPACE product starts with a 3 _ inch wide frame constructed of 16-gauge cold-rolled steel to provide strength and rigidity, allowing it to remain distortion-free during installation and later moves, adds and changes (MACs).
Load-bearing panel frames can be used to build walls from 30 inches to 14 feet in height and panel height can be increased without removing existing panel frames or disturbing power, voice and data cabling.
Knockdown and ready to assemble (RTA) framing components equipped with self-leveling connections simplify moving elements into and throughout the building, reducing assembly costs and the number of framing components required. Frames can easily be added to or removed from runs without disturbing adjacent structures."
Panel segments are constructed from 24-gauge steel for exceptional durability and effective sound dampening.
To address voice, data and power requirements MAiSPACE modular offices incorporate standards-compliant plug-and-play cable management systems. "Cable runs are laid in behind lift-off panel segments," Bassil explains. "This differs from and is superior to competitive designs requiring that cables be bundled and fished through structural elements. When MACs occur system segments are unplugged, moved and reconnected without disrupting the entire office's local area network (LAN). This frequently can be accomplished by on-site IT personnel without the need of outside contractors," he says.
Pricing Issues
Bassil calls attention to another point facility managers should keep in mind. "High quality modular furniture systems backed by outstanding service and guarantees no longer come at a high cost," he says. "MAiSPACE was established in 1993 based on an entirely new approach to designing and manufacturing modular office furniture systems. Because we are not saddled with outmoded techniques, our price points average 40% below some of the best known names in the industry. This means we can provide fully furnished offices starting at $12 to $15 per square foot." Pricing is not dependent upon the size of the installation or number of units ordered.
Summing it up, Bassil says that in order to score suppliers of modular office furniture systems purchasers must look beyond initial appearances and comfort factors. "Service before, during and after the installation are as important as construction quality and cable management," he says. "An informed facility manager is one best positioned to make correct buying decisions."
