“Ergonomic expertise is a differentiator but not a limitation”

Applied Ergonomics began as an office ergonomics-only company at the beginning of computer ergonomics as a field of study. Jeffrey Meltzer, the president of Applied Ergonomics, says, " "It took 25 years for the world to catch on to the importance of ergonomics, but since I saw the benefits of computer ergonomics so clearly, I was afraid that every office furniture dealership would incorporate ergonomic expertise into their offerings a long time ago. Not wanting to be left out of opportunities, and with a background in residential renovation, I quickly transitioned the company to become a full-service contract furniture dealership, and our ergonomic expertise is now a differentiator but not a limitation.” Their first workstation sale was $1 million, and that gave them entry into the furniture business. Since then, the company has grown to design and furnish, and often build, corporate headquarters, medical clinics, car dealerships, and other commercial interiors across the country. Meltzer understands that his company’s work both reflects and helps mold their clients’ corporate culture, their employees’ health and well-being, and is the face of the organization to the rest of the world.

Jeffrey has led the company for three decades and thinks the business is reaching a turning point. As he is creating a succession plan, he is putting his foot on the accelerator to build out a team that can thrive into the future. One major initiative for growth has been in software systems.

They began working recently with consultants, who will ultimately become partners, to map out process flow, identify pinch points, and improve processes. The team chose Zoho One to be the basis of building out not only their CRM but also the business process systems. "We urge team members to highlight problems in the processes related to their daily tasks so we can address them," says Meltzer. Having made a mistake a couple of years ago when they changed from a server-based accounting system to a cloud-based ERP system, they are taking their time before moving again to a system that they have identified as potentially ideal for them. Says Meltzer: “We hired a CFO for the last transition, but we didn’t formally map out all of our processes before switching to the ERP, as I knew them in my head and thought that would be sufficient. It wasn’t. Even though it may be redundant, and we may ultimately move our processes to the new ERP, building them out now in Zoho will inform everything going forward.” As part of this systems overhaul, they have also replaced their design software, moving from a legacy system to a new one that integrates electronically with their next accounting system, which will speed order entry by multiples while reducing errors.

“Our design team has always been the heart of the business, and that job simply takes time to grow into. We only hire designers with a BA or master’s degree in either Interior Design or Architecture, so they come in with basic knowledge of design and codes. But school is just the introductory class.” Commercial interior design is governed by accessibility laws, safety codes, anthropometric proportions, structural elements, logistics, and project management. It requires both left and right brain skills. The inspiration may be artistic, but every detail makes a difference, both aesthetically and structurally. Applied Ergonomics helps young designers grow into their careers by offering far more responsibility and involvement in large scale projects than they would have in larger design firms. This hands-on learning is coupled with formalized topic-specific education, ranging from ergonomic principles to sustainability, and how specific products create the impact that they want to achieve. Yet the design field is notorious for job hopping, as designers often want to try out different aspects of the field, and turnover in this critical department has always been an Achilles heel for the company. Meltzer believes that as a creative enterprise, they must provide designers with flexibility and autonomy to be creative and he is “learning to let go, giving guidance without driving every detail.”

"Applied Ergonomics is one of only a few resources in the US that is an ergonomic specialist and consultancy with a deep selection and knowledge of ergonomic products that can be bought online or in-person."

Jeffrey clarifies that while 90% of their customers are corporations, they also service home-office users. Pain-relieving ergonomic retrofits are a specialty, and especially gratifying. Meltzer was recently featured in a video production created by the Montefiore Einstein health system to teach the importance and basics of ergonomics for individuals. AE has been working with patients referred by occupational therapists from the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (formerly the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago) for decades. One recent home office user with newly built-in, high-end millwork in her office had a desk that was both too high for her comfort while seated and was fixed-height, making it difficult to stand up to work. She was experiencing terrible neck and forearm pain. They removed the desk drawer and replaced it with a sit-stand articulating keyboard platform and monitor arm. They let her test a chair tailored for her and are letting her try out keyboards and mice to reduce forearm strain and pain. Applied Ergonomics calls this approach Prescription FurnitureTM.

A more typical commercial project was Builders Asphalt's 20,000-square-foot Chicago office. Their architect, who designed the building but not the interiors, asked AE to serve as the interior designer and provide all the decorative materials for the building, as well as the furniture and art. The client was their own general contractor. AE specified, provided, and installed all the building's furnishings, including their own line of ergonomic furniture, ergoFocus. Designed and provided the flooring, millwork, tile and decorative lighting throughout the building. To tie it all together, they selected art and created a custom photo and wall graphic program, which involved hiring and supervising photo shoots at one of the client's manufacturing sites to create branded, framed plant photos, and a two-wall panoramic mural.

Applied Ergonomics has an intriguing future. They've recently completed projects in their home market of Chicago and around the country in Phoenix, Bethesda, Nashville, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, and Baltimore, in addition to previous installations in California, New York, Washington DC, Virginia, Ohio, Iowa, Virginia, and Florida. They're building their web business by selling individual hard to find contract furniture products and are also developing their ergoFocus line of ergonomic furniture and accessories. Their consultants will become more integrated as partners as they learn the business, allowing him to be less hands-on and the critical lynchpin that he has been.