The First Facility Management Blog

For the 20th time in 22 years, Herman Miller is ranked as the “Most Admired” company in its industry in FORTUNE magazine’s annual survey broadly measuring the reputation of America’s corporations.

Additionally, among all companies in all industries, Herman Miller is recognized in the Top 10 for its Innovation, Social Responsibility, People Management, and Quality of Products/Services, and is the only Michigan-based company to place No. 1 among the magazine’s distinct industry listings.

The results, published in FORTUNE’s March 17, 2008, issue, rate Herman Miller first among all companies in the furniture industry in six of the survey’s eight key attributes of reputation: Innovation, People Management, Use of Corporate Assets, Social Responsibility, Quality of Management, and Quality of Products/Services.

The contract furniture designer and manufacturer is now a member of the Office Ergonomics Research Committee (OERC), an industry council that researches the relationship between office work and discomfort, fatigue, and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

Allsteel is focused on creating ergonomic seating, workstations, and other office furniture that helps office workers to be more productive, more comfortable, and less likely to report injuries. The company became interested in OERC’s studies due to the involvement of a number of world-renowned researchers.

OERC is committed to better understanding the human and machine system that is comprised of the people who use office, information, and communication technologies in a broad range of settings. The organization helps companies manufacturing products in these areas stay informed about the latest findings and how to prevent discomfort, disease, and musculoskeletal disorders. Other OERC members include Steelcase, Herman Miller, Humanscale, Dell, Apple, Intel, Hewlett-Packard, and Microsoft.

The OERC was established in 1991 as a result of an increasing number of musculoskeletal disorders. Many of its members fit into the office furniture manufacturer category. According to Tom Albin, executive director of OERC, “We have a large range in our membership. Although our research is not always specific to each member’s area, it does provide a great value to our office furniture manufacturing clients. We are glad to have Allsteel on board.”

As an OERC member, Allsteel is able to make research recommendations to the committee, and specific requests for information about the newest trends and ergonomic issues related to the office environment.

According to Scott Openshaw, human factors and ergonomics manager at Allsteel, “The partnership between Allsteel and the OERC makes perfect sense as we’re both committed to creating ergonomic workplaces where employees can be comfortable and productive. The OERC’s cutting-edge research allows us to understand new trends and how we can apply those findings to designing ergonomic workplace solutions.”

Fast Company magazine today named Herman Miller, Inc. to its “Fast 50″ list of the world’s most innovative companies. Herman Miller ranked 26th this year and was the only representative of the contract furniture industry.

The “Fast 50,” announced in the March 2008 issue of Fast Company, highlights how innovation can drive economic growth. From green consumer-products phenomenon Method to 100-year-old Corning, which spends $2 million each workday on R&D, the list celebrates companies that are redefining the rules of business through new ideas. Other notable companies on Fast Company’s “Fast 50″ include Google, Facebook, GE, Nike, and Nokia. Twelve of the 50 firms are based outside the U.S. Fifteen of the 50 are based in and around Silicon Valley.

In naming Herman Miller to the list, the magazine cited Convia, the company’s new subsidiary and eponymous electrical infrastructure system that enables programmable interiors, with resulting energy savings for buildings. Also noted was C2, a new desktop climate control device that both warms and cools the user and is part of Herman Miller’s new Be Collection of personal accessories.

Last October, Fast Company set out to identify and rank the world’s most innovative companies. The magazine deployed dozens of reporters around the globe to gather data and interview experts and business leaders in every industry to get their nominations. The final 50 were selected from a list of 300 finalist companies. The magazine placed a high premium on companies that had demonstrated significant innovation over the past year. Actual rankings were determined by vote by a panel of editors and writers.

The complete list and related stories appear in the March 2008 issue of Fast Company magazine (available on newsstands February 19 - March 25). Expanded profiles can be found online.

Herman Miller, Inc. finalized the purchase of the Seattle-based manufacturer of healthcare furniture last week. Details of the transaction were not disclosed.

An alliance partner of Herman Miller since 2005, Brandrud carries a portfolio of healthcare furnishings, including seating products for patient rooms, patient treatment areas, and public spaces such as lobbies and waiting areas.

“This is an exciting time for Herman Miller,” said Beth Nickels, president of Herman Miller for Healthcare. “There is tremendous energy and focus as we continue to deliver the industry’s mostcomprehensive healthcare furnishings and services portfolio to our customers. Adding the designs and expertise of Brandrud to our team reinforces that commitment.” Herman Miller is located in Zeeland, MI.

Lee Falck and Bobby Holt will remain co-presidents of Brandrud, which is expected to have 2007 sales of approximately $20 million. Falck and Holt acquired Brandrud in 2000 and have since launched several healthcare seating programs.

Falck added, “Brandrud and Herman Miller share similar values and a commitment to research and development, which makes this an ideal arrangement. We’re eager to pursue the next level of opportunities that exist within the healthcare environment.”

Herman Miller, Inc. has been selected to receive a Great Place to Work award for establishing diversity as a fundamental corporate value and critical business initiative.

Presented by the Great Place to Work Institute, the annual award is granted to only five companies appearing on FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list. Selections also are based on creative and effective approaches to developing trust, pride, and camaraderie within the workplace.

Herman Miller will receive its award at the Great Place to Work Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, on Wednesday, April 2, 2008. Other award recipients include Boston Consulting Group, Root Learning, Wegmans, and W.L. Gore & Associates.

VillageGreen, a 20,000 square foot facility located in Chippenham, England, houses the company’s headquarters for operations outside North America. It is the company’s 12th LEED certification awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the seventh to achieve LEED Gold. It was awarded the certification under the New Construction (NC) rating system.

Ed Nagelkirk, senior manager of Workplace Strategy and Facilities for Herman Miller, asserted the “less is more” approach to VillageGreen was central to achieving the Gold certification. “The integrity of the building materials, such as the exposed concrete, structural timbers and corrugated decking, shows beautifully and requires no additional finish,” he said.

VillageGreen was designed by international architecture firm Gensler to achieve the certification for best practice in environmental design and management. Completed in January 2006, it has also achieved the United Kingdom’s BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) Excellent award.

Several notable details that qualified VillageGreen for LEED Gold are:
* Natural ventilation: A computerized system adjusts airflow, eliminating the need for air conditioning.
* All timber is from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) sustainable sources.
* Recycled aggregate building materials are sourced from within 30 kilometers.
* All carpeting is recyclable.
* Energy efficient lighting is activated by movement sensors.
* 75% of the building is exposed to natural daylight, and 95% of the office space includes a view of the outside.
* Cycle racks and showers are provided to encourage alternative transportation.

“VillageGreen provides an efficient and dynamic work environment for employees and it also has become a popular customer destination,” says John Portlock, president of Herman Miller International. “It also serves as a living case study about the possibilities that exist with sustainable design.”

20 North American Cities Host Eleventh Annual Event

For children from disadvantaged circumstances, the glitter and excitement of the holiday season can be an especially unhappy time.

But once again in 2007, for the eleventh consecutive year, the non-profit and business partnership known as “We Care” is stepping in to deliver some seasonal sparkle to deserving children from coast to coast.

We Care unites the Boys And Girls Clubs of America with furniture manufacturers Geiger and Herman Miller, Inc., along with many of the country’s leading interior design firms, to host a holiday gathering for children in need. This year 20 cities across the United States and Canada are hosting We Care events with the support of more than 200 architecture and design firms, Bloomingdale’s, and a host of energetic on-site volunteers.

“We have been involved with the We Care project for several years now,” said Ronnie Jenkins, vice president, Services to Clubs, of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “During that time, hundreds of kids from communities with limited resources have been able to take part in a day of seasonal celebration. We Care also has enabled the Boys & Girls Clubs to work side-by-side with local business leaders who really do care about their communities. We are pleased to lend our support to this worthy cause.”

Each We Care celebration features entertainment and snacks. The youngsters are provided a variety of craft materials and encouraged to make holiday gifts and cards for family and friends. Representatives from each city’s foremost interior design firms are on hand to help the kids achieve their artistic vision. And last but certainly not least, Santa Claus stops by for a visit.

We Care resulted from a Geiger employee’s realization that some less-fortunate kids in her community were unable to share in the joys of the holiday season. Through her initial efforts a YMCA near Chicago’s Cabrini Green housing project hosted the first We Care event in December 1997. Each year since, more cities across the country have signed on to host a We Care day of their own during the holidays (see schedule below).

Boys & Girls Clubs host We Care gatherings in many of the participating cities, working with their local schools to bring children to the festivities. The event requires months of preparation and coordination between the Boys And Girls Clubs, the partner companies and local interior designers, yet all agree the effort is worthwhile.

“This year we’re expecting more than 4,000 children to participate in the We Care events,” said Sara Straus, national program manager for We Care. “The number of cities hosting We Care also continues to grow and we’re very thankful for the incredible support from our sponsors and the volunteers who make these events possible.”

Maker of celebrated consumer and business furnishings ventures into emerging realm of virtual community, bringing authentic, authorized designs to Second Life

Herman Miller Inc., the design collaborator and manufacturer of furniture pieces like the Eames Lounge and Ottoman, the Nelson Marshmallow Sofa, and the Aeron office chair, is bringing a collection of its famous designs to Second Life. The 3D virtual world and social networking site is host to the digitally rendered homes and facilities of millions of users from over 100 countries, including an ever expanding number of organizations, businesses and brands.

Building on the company’s earlier and successful “Get Real” campaign in the real world, aimed at combating unauthorized “knock-offs” of its large catalog of internationally recognized designs, Herman Miller will offer both products and information to virtual world consumers and businesses. It’s expected these new and beautifully rendered editions of the work of Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson, Isamu Noguchi, Bill Stumpf, Don Chadwick, Studio 7.5, and Yves Behar will quickly supplant the numerous unauthorized knock-offs that some in-world outlets have been selling to Second Life residents.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for people and businesses in the virtual world to enjoy great, authentic design, from the company that commissioned and collaborated with some of the world’s greatest industrial designers,” noted Marg Mojzak, director of Herman Miller for the Home. “For some time we’ve urged customers to ‘check the product, check the source, and check your conscience’ before purchasing a classic. We’re bringing that same message to Second Life–and in the virtual world you’ll be able to own and enjoy them for pocket change!”

Better still, with the launch of its Second Life presence Herman Miller will make most of these new designs available at no cost to consumers and organizations who earlier purchased virtual knock-offs from unauthorized sellers. Those taking advantage of this limited-time, honor-based offer need only delete their old inventory and then “Get Real.” First-time buyers will be able to purchase these designs for prices ranging between (Linden dollars) L$300-L$850, or the real world equivalent of approximately U.S. $1.40 to $3.50.

The collection includes 15 original Herman Miller pieces, many of them available in an array of colors and finishes, from residential and office seating, to sofas, tables, and even lighting. These virtual world three-dimensional renderings have been produced in remarkable detail, including working control of both “warm” and “cool” settings in Yves Behar’s award-winning Leaf light. All of the designs will be digitally labeled, identifying them as Real Herman Miller.

“Our brand is synonymous with our designs and we take the protection of our intellectual property very seriously,” noted Mojzak. “Many of these designs, as well as the designers’ names, are the legal trademarks of Herman Miller. With our entry into the virtual world we’re acknowledging its growth and importance, and we’re acting to protect the interests of both the buyer and our business.”

The entire collection will be available exclusively at “Herman Miller Real Goods,” a virtual retail store within Avalon Island in Second Life. Existing Second Life residents can then link directly to the in-world store, or first-time users can link to Second Life to download the free enabling software, create their avatar, and begin their exploration of virtual space.

Visitors to Herman Miller Real Goods will be able to browse or buy the in-world designs, gather more detailed information via links to product pages on the company’s web site, or link to a real world listing of retailers and commercial dealers where they can purchase the actual pieces for home or office.

Beyond Product

Herman Miller’s interest in the virtual world goes well beyond brand building, the protection of intellectual property, or any revenue from the sales of virtual design. In fact, the company’s exploration of virtual worlds began within its Future Insight Group, a focused team within research and development charged with exploring emerging trends and technologies, and their implications both for global society and Herman Miller’s business. The researchers believed that Herman Miller needed to be actively involved in the virtual world space.

“By early 2006 there was clear evidence that virtual worlds were rapidly growing phenomena with staying power,” said Maryln Walton, then program lead for the Future Insight Group. “The interactive, visual experience offered a compelling new form of self expression, communication and social networking that was globally accessible. That was intriguing in itself, but in combination with the emerging use of virtual reality among businesses and other organizations for distance-free collaboration and learning, it was clear this was about both serious work and play.”

The company formed an exploratory team that began to review virtual worlds in detail, examining the existing and potential applications. Among their findings were the significant numbers of enterprises actively using the technology to further their organizational missions, including educational institutions and major companies. And like in-world consumers, they were building and furnishing virtual interior spaces to support their work. The result was a decision in the spring of 2007 to move forward with a presence in Second Life, both to serve customers and to continue to add to Herman Miller’s knowledge and understanding of the emerging virtual world.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation has released its sixth annual Corporate Equality Index, showing an unprecedented 195 major U.S. businesses earned the top rating of 100%, up from 138 last year–a 41 percent increase.

The Index rates employers on a scale from 0 to 100% on their treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) employees, consumers and investors. The 195 businesses that met all of the criteria employ more than 8.3 million workers. When the Index was first released in 2002 only 13 companies, employing 690,000 workers, received the top rating.

“More businesses than ever before have recognized the value of a diverse and dedicated workforce,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “More importantly, these employers understand that discrimination against GLBT workers will ultimately hurt their ability to compete in the global marketplace.”

Furniture company, Herman Miller, was among those companies given a 100% rating. “This recognition is a testament to our commitment to inclusiveness,” said Brian Walker, Herman Miller’s president and CEO. “In the accelerating competition for talent, inclusiveness is a strategic business imperative for us. We believe that our ability to innovate depends on our ability to attract the best people to Herman Miller, so we strive to ensure that our company is a place where everyone’s gifts are welcomed.”

Michael Ramirez, Herman Miller’s director of Inclusiveness and Diversity, said the 100% rating represents “another step in an ongoing journey to make certain that Herman Miller is a place where we bring the whole person to work and where we respect the talents of all.”

This was the first year Herman Miller was rated in the Corporate Equality Index.

More About This Year’s Index
The Corporate Equality Index, which this year rates 519 businesses, measures the extent to which employers protect their GLBT employees. Ratings are based on factors like non-discrimination policies, diversity training and benefits for domestic partners and transgender employees. Among the findings of this year’s report.

• The banking and financial services industry has 32 companies with 100%, more than any other industry. While there are 30 law firms with the top rating, up from 12 last year.
• Three sectors saw their first company achieve a top rating.
• In mail and freight delivery, United Parcel Service (UPS) achieved 100%.
• In the transportation and travel services industry, Travelport known for its travel sites such as Orbitz.com is the first to receive a perfect score.
• Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. (HET) is the first gaming industry company to achieve 100%.
• For the first time, a majority of rated firms (58%) provide employment protections on the basis of gender identity.
• Among the 57 companies that have newly achieved a perfect score of 100% are: Allstate Insurance Co., Electronic Arts Inc., Esurance Inc., J.C. Penney Co. Inc., KeyCorp, Macy’s Inc., Marriott International Inc., Mastercard Inc., Waste Management Inc., and Yahoo! Inc.

The report can be downloaded from HRC’s website at www.hrc.org/cei.

The Leaf personal light from Herman Miller, Inc., was noted for its sleek design and energy efficiency, earning Silver in the design strategy category from the International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA).

In its 27th year, the annual design competition is sponsored by BusinessWeek and presented by the Industrial Designers Society of America. It honors design excellence in products, eco design, interaction design, packaging, strategy, research, and concepts.

Over 30 countries were represented in the competition with more than 1,600 award entries. The 18-member jury awarded 20 entries with Gold, 19 entries with Silver, and 42 entries with Bronze.

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 allows 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.

Featured winners of the 2007 IDEA will appear in the July 30th issue of BusinessWeek, which will appear on newsstands on July 23.