What is ergonomics? The application of ergonomics in the design and manufacturing of office furniture

Ergonomics in design and manufacturing applies ergonomic principles to product design to enhance comfort, protect health, and improve work efficiency. So, what is ergonomics, and how is it used? Let’s explore how ergonomics is utilized in design and manufacturing to create an ideal working environment, as shown in the article below with Okamura!

1. What is ergonomics?

Ergonomics is the field of study focused on designing products, workspaces, and living environments to maximize compatibility with the human body. The primary goal is to optimize posture, reduce musculoskeletal strain, and improve performance, helping people work and live more comfortably, safely, and efficiently.

The term originates from Greek, where "ergo" means "work" and "nomos" means "law," reflecting the design based on the natural interaction laws between humans and their surrounding environment (source: Ministry of Health’s information portal).

Ergonomics is the field of research into the design of products, workspaces and living environments to create maximum fit for the human body.

2. Why should use Ergonomic furniture in businesses?

Using Ergonomic furniture helps businesses create a comfortable, safe working environment, enhance productivity, and protect employee health. Here are some reasons why businesses should invest in Ergonomic furniture: 

2.1. Support for employee health protection

Ergonomic furniture helps minimize health issues such as back pain, neck strain, and carpal tunnel syndrome, which often arise from poor working posture. Ergonomic design supports maintaining correct posture, reducing stress on the spine, muscles, and joints, thus alleviating fatigue during long working hours.

Using suitable furniture also enhances comfort for office employees, reducing the risk of occupational diseases.

2.2. Improve work performance

Ergonomic furniture creates a comfortable working environment, helping employees focus and improve efficiency. The design supports proper posture, which reduces fatigue and stress, boosts productivity, and maintains long-term effectiveness. At the same time, Ergonomic furniture optimizes space and flexibility, encouraging employees to be creative and proactive in their work.

Ergonomic furniture helps create a comfortable working environment, allowing employees to concentrate better and improve work efficiency.

2.3. Keep the loyalty

Using Ergonomic furniture helps businesses create a professional work environment, enhancing employee experience and satisfaction and contributing to staff retention within the organization. With a comfortable workspace, employees can focus better on their tasks, improving productivity and increasing their contribution to the organization. 

Investing in Ergonomic furniture is also a way to show the business's concern for employee welfare, thereby enhancing loyalty and long-term commitment to the company.

2.4. Applying sustainable business

Investing in high-quality Ergonomic furniture provides a comfortable use experience and ensures outstanding durability. Thanks to that, the product can be used for a long time, minimizing the need for frequent replacement, contributing to reducing waste in the environment, and leading to a sustainable lifestyle.

Premium Ergonomic furniture brands often meet international sustainability standards, such as the Level certification. In particular, these products are highly recyclable, with some models being up to 100% recyclable, helping to reduce environmental impact and optimize the product life cycle.

Using sustainable furniture not only optimizes long-term costs but also contributes to improving productivity, reducing waste and building a green environment.

3. The principles of applying Ergonomics in furniture design and manufacturing

Applying Ergonomic principles in furniture design and manufacturing helps create a comfortable, safe, and efficient workspace, thus protecting personal health and maintaining high work performance. Here are four essential application principles:

1 - Placing people at the center of product design

The most important fact of the Ergonomics principle is based on the user's anthropometric parameters to create products suitable for their body size and range of activities. 

Ergonomic furniture is developed based on research about human activities, which leads to products with designs and functions that provide maximum support to users. These products help improve posture and minimize health issues related to daily work habits.

For example, the Sphere has a backrest that imitates the human spine, providing support and closely hugging the body for optimal comfort. Meanwhile, the Sylphy integrates a forward tilt function based on research about users' tendency to lean forward when working with computers without leaning back into the chair, which causes shoulder and back pain. With this feature, the chair provides better support, helping users maintain a correct and more comfortable sitting posture for extended periods.

Ergonomic furniture must support natural posture, ensuring effective support for the spine, wrists, legs and neck area

2 - Promoting Personalization

Ergonomic furniture has a high level of personalization, with products that can be flexibly adjusted to suit each individual's body shape and range of motion. Additionally, these products can be customized in terms of color, material, functions, and accessories best to meet the preferences and needs of the user.

Most ergonomic chairs can be adjusted in height and depth to suit each body shape. In particular, the backrest tension can be mechanically adjusted according to the person's weight, providing optimal comfort. For some chairs used in meeting rooms or reception areas, the automatic adjustment of reclining tension helps users not need to operate and still have a relaxing sitting experience.

3 - Provide maximum comfort

Ergonomic furniture is designed to help users maintain correct sitting/standing posture, reduce muscle strain, and minimize discomfort in the back, shoulders, and neck during long work hours. Components such as lumbar support, armrests, headrests, and multi-density seat cushions are crucial in providing maximum comfort.

By offering the necessary support, Ergonomic furniture helps you work efficiently without negatively impacting your health, enhancing productivity throughout the day.

Ergonomic furniture is designed to help users maintain correct posture, reduce muscle tension, and limit back, shoulder, and neck fatigue when working for long periods of time.

4 - Promote minimalism and intuitiveness

Ergonomic furniture is designed based on minimalist principles, eliminating unnecessary details while maintaining both aesthetics and functionality. The products must be easy to use, with an intuitive design that allows users to quickly adjust according to their personal needs. The balance between an attractive design and optimal body support is a key factor in creating an effective, comfortable, and professional working environment.

4. Okamura - A premium Japanese brand of Ergonomic furniture

Okamura is a leading office furniture brand from Japan, established in 1945 in Yokohama. With 80 years of experience, Okamura has established its international presence through high-quality products, refined designs, and the application of advanced technology. The brand is particularly renowned for its popular ergonomic chairs, offering optimal comfort and support for users.

Here are some of iconic  Okamura's ergonomic chair models 

1 - Contessa II 

The Contessa II chair is an upgraded version of the legendary Contessa line. It combinines luxurious design (13 modern, trending color options) and advanced technology. The chair is equipped with a sturdy aluminum frame, combined with highly elastic mesh material and a flexible adjustment mechanism, helping to provide maximum support for the back and spine. 

In addition, the Smart Operation system allows users to adjust the backrest between free reclining mode and five reclining tension levels with the left lever and can change the height from 435 to 545 mm with the right lever, providing a comfortable experience and optimal sitting posture. Please refer to product details here.

The Contessa II chair is equipped with a sturdy aluminum frame, high-quality breathable mesh and flexible adjustment mechanism, providing maximum support for the back and spine.

2 - Shibusa

The Shibusa chair by Okamura, designed by Richard Holbrook, is inspired by Japanese aesthetic philosophy and offers elegance and sophistication in every detail. The chair features a minimalist yet luxurious design, making it particularly suitable for meeting rooms with its premium genuine leather material and automatic reclining tension adjustment based on body weight. This ensures that anyone can experience the comfort of the Shibusa chair, even on their first use. For more details on the product, please refer here.

Okamura's Shibusa chair was designed by Richard Holbrook, inspired by Japanese aesthetic philosophy

3 - Fiona

The Finora chair from Okamura was developed by the industrial design department of Italdesign, the Italian automotive design and engineering company founded by legendary designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. The chair combines modern elegance with the ability to provide optimal sitting posture support.

The product has armrests that can be adjusted in four directions (height - depth - width - angle), and exclusive multi-density cushions that reduce pressure on the thighs and provide firm hip support. The 23-degree ankle tilt mechanism also allows users to find the most comfortable resting position. Please refer to the product details here.

The Finora chair from Okamura combines a slim, elegant design with advanced ergonomic technology

4 - Sabrina Standard

Okamura's Sabrina Standard Chair has an iconic flexible ring structure, a chair frame that curves with every natural movement. The design helps you feel comfortable when sitting and working at the same time frame The tight-fitting interior provides a sense of stability, and the wide-open exterior frame allows the body to easily tilt side to side. 

Sabrina Standard is also equipped with a breathable, sturdy mesh material, ensuring comfort throughout use. Please refer to product details here.

Sabrina Standard has an iconic flexible ring structure that supports the sitting position and curves with every movement

5 - Sylphy

Okamura's Sylphy chair features an adjustable back frame, suitable for many body shapes and supports the spine to maintain a natural S-curve. The product is equipped with multi-density seat cushions exclusively researched by Okamura, which help distribute body weight evenly, improve blood circulation and reduce fatigue when sitting for long periods of time. 

The armrests can be adjusted in three dimensions include: Height, depth and angle, providing the most comfortable elbow support for different tasks. Please refer to product details here.

Okamura's Sylphy chair features an adjustable back frame that fits many body shapes and supports the spine to maintain a natural S-curve.

The application of Ergonomics in the design and manufacturing of furniture not only enhances comfort and protects the user's health but also optimizes work performance. Understanding Ergonomics and choosing the right furniture will help you create a scientifically designed, sustainable working environment. 

If you're looking for high-quality Ergonomic furniture, check out the ergonomic chair and table models from Okamura to experience the difference! See details HERE.