Markets We Serve / Corporate
Choose from the following case studies for more details.
Pharmacy Benefits Management Company
Product: Herman Miller, Action Office 2 system
About the Client
Provides mail order pharmacy services from its 73,000 square foot facility in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Strategy
KZF Design, Inc. worked with the pharmacy benefits management company’s CEO during initial project meetings to create a new culture that would promote collaboration and team building. The new space, including the workstations, had to reflect this idea.
Results
APG Office Furnishings worked with Herman Miller to utilize the company’s corporate buying power. An agreement was worked out that was able to provide the company with two innovative workstation layouts: manager/director and professional.
Utilizing the Action Office 2 system, the new layout was open, interactive, and created a “playful atmosphere,” that met the objectives for the project. This universal plan has enabled the company the ability to enhance its space, flexibility and minimize downtime for its employees.
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Corporate Identity Uniform Corporation
Product: Herman Miller, Action Office 2 system
About the Client
Leading provider of corporate identity uniform programs and specialized services that employs over 30,000 individuals throughout 300 nationwide locations.
Strategy
Embarking on a 50-plant expansion, it was deemed necessary to standardize the furniture product inventory and acquisition processes. Standardization would allow for greater cost efficiencies and effectiveness throughout the network. The corporation’s management preferred a single source partner, while being able to gain better leverage in terms of volume purchasing in the marketplace.
Results
APG Office Furnishings (APG) developed a furniture standards manual for all the corporation’s locations, which allowed for a single source partner from concept to implementation. APG also created a monthly customer activity report and internal processes, which resulted in a 98% customer satisfaction rating.
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Database Management Company
Product: Krug & Herman Miller
About the Client
An international consulting and marketing service organization with offices in Europe and USA.
Strategy
The creation of the USA-based database management company came from the joint venture between the London-based database management company and a grocery retailer. The main goal when strategizing for the company’s move and new facility was to be in close proximity to its customer, the grocery retailer. The new space had to reflect its existing culture of teaming and collaboration within its new market.
Results
APG Office Furnishings (APG), in conjunction with a local architecture and design firm, designed a space that was completely open, including the workstations of the management and human resources teams. A total of 50 workstations were created using Ethospace, which is known for its ability to change both vertically and horizontally. APG also assisted in creating a video conference room, which allows it to keep in constant contact with its colleagues in the UK.
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Diversified Energy Company
Product: Herman Miller, Action Office system
About the Client
A diversified energy company headquartered in Akron, Ohio. Its subsidiaries and affiliates are involved in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. It is the nation’s fifth largest electric system provider, serving 4.5 million customers within Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
Strategy
The company’s management team decided it was more productive for its real estate group to outsource the management of its furniture assets. Outsourcing would allow the Real Estate group to focus on maintaining and developing its real estate assets.
Results
APG Office Furnishings worked closely with the real estate group division to develop a comprehensive inventory project management program. This collaboration has resulted in the company utilizing APG’s Asset Inventory Management (AIM) program to manage its asset planning and financial models.
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Global Paper and Packaging Company
Product: Herman Miller, Ethospace system
About the Client
Business includes paper, packaging, and forest products. Employing more than 100,000 people, the company has locations in the United States, Asia, Canada, Europe and Latin America making it the world’s largest paper and forestry company.
Strategy
The company’s management team implemented a new corporate strategy to purchase other paper and forestry product facilities to grow its presence in the marketplace, as well as to consolidate its support processes nationally.
Results
To best accommodate this new strategy, it went through a product analysis. Ethospace was chosen for its reconfigurability, both horizontally and vertically. Throughout APG Office Furnishings and the company’s partnership, Ethospace has paid for itself several times over due to the ease of re-configuration. As a result, APG Office Furnishings is the single source provider for all of the company’s project management, move management, and design needs.
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Beauty Product Company
Product: Herman Miller, Ethospace (wood) system & Resolve system
About the Client
Beauty product company that is a leading competitor in the soap and cosmetics industry and employs over 400 individuals in a four building campus.
Strategy
Upon completion of a new strategic business plan, the management team determined that its existing facilities were no longer in alignment with the company’s new direction. The Vice President of Human Resources also realized that compared to its peer groups, the company’s staff attraction and retention rate had dropped below the national average.
Results
The company created cross-functional teams to determine practical solutions to revitalizing its facility as well as ways to increase the employee attraction and retention rates. Its management team opted to restack the existing Ethospace product incorporating new company standards. Ethospace was ideal for this project due to its inherent ability to be reconfigured both horizontally and vertically. Resolve, known for creating a workspace that is inviting and collaborative, was used in the Sales and Marketing area. As a result, the company has been successful in attaining its employee attraction and retention goals.
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Architectural and Engineering Firm
Product: Watson & Herman Miller, Ethospace system
About the Client
The oldest and largest architectural and engineering firm located in the Dayton, Ohio area.
Strategy
The architectural and engineering firm’s notable history of restoring important historic buildings in the city attracted it to the idea of acquiring the McCormick Building, which is listed on the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places. Maintaining the integrity of the building’s original design allowed the firm to juxtapose the old with the new. The goal was to create a sustainable design that celebrated the openness of the space and the natural lighting.
Results
APG Office Furnishings worked closely with the firm’s principles to provide it with open plan systems furniture layouts. Utilizing the Ethospace system, the new image was open and interactive, which met the objectives for the project. The stairs throughout the building allowed for greater interaction among the staff, and the open plan design fostered a more collaborative and creative environment.
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Specialty Insurance Company
Product: Herman Miller, Action Office 2 system
About the Client
Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, the company is a highly focused provider of specialty insurance products and services through its insurance group subsidiary.
Strategy
Changes and rapid expansion in the insurance industry caused the specialty insurance company executives to rethink their current business strategies. The company needed to increase claim processing productivity, as well as realign its business processes. The work environment had to reflect these changes, while at the same time provide for conceptual work processes, team coaching and collaboration.
Results
By adapting its existing furniture to meet the demands of an ever-changing environment, the company was able to create an atmosphere that assisted in meeting its business strategies. The departments now work in cross-functional teams, allowing for increased productivity and employee retention.
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Insurance Brokerage Firm
Product: Paoli
About the Client
Full-service insurance brokerage firm that offers a full range of Property, Casualty, Employee Benefits, Life and Personal insurance products.
Strategy
As the firm continued to experience a high level of growth, its existing facility was no longer able to accommodate its growing staff. Upon locating a new facility, realignment was necessary for the business units to accommodate the growth.
Results
Working closely with a local architecture and design firm, and under a very tight schedule, APG Office Furnishings was able to provide product solutions to meet the deadlines for the two floors of the downtown facility. These product solutions allowed for flexibility in design and future growth, and spoke to the issue of privacy.
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Graphic and Digital Design Company
Product: Herman Miller, Resolve system
About the Client
A graphic and digital design company whose focus is on developing brand marketing for its clients.
Strategy
The graphic and digital design company’s management team wanted to create a new environment that would promote creativity and the sharing of knowledge.
Results
APG Office Furnishings (APG) worked closely with the company designers to blend the future of furniture with their current Art Deco interior. Herman Miller’s Resolve product bridged this design, creating a unique blend of people and space. APG delivered and installed the Resolve product on time, in budget, and with zero punch issues.
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Brand-Name Product Corporation
Product: Herman Miller, Ethospace system
About the Client
A global manufacturer and marketer of high-quality, brand-name products for consumers located throughout the world. The corporation has operations in 58 countries and markets branded products in nearly 200 nations.
Strategy
The brand-name product corporation’s management wanted to consolidate its operations into one location along with the integration of the brand-name food enterprises.
Results
The brand-name product corporation worked closely with Hixson Architects to develop an innovative environment that reflected its new culture. Additionally, the brand-name food integration was included in this process. The corporation chose Herman Miller Ethospace for its ability to adapt as it incorporated new business into its Blue Ash location.
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Manufacturing Solutions Organization
Product: Refurbished Action Office 2 system
About the Client
Manufacturing solutions organization that works to improve the competitiveness of manufacturing, technology, and related businesses, located in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Strategy
Aligning itself with the core fundamentals of Lean Manufacturing, the manufacturing solutions organization was interested in moving into a new space that was more efficient in terms of day-to-day business functions and one that would assist in reducing operating expenses.
Results
Utilizing a financial model developed by the organization to navigate through the construction process, APG Office Furnishings (APG) worked closely with the commercial real estate company Duke Realty and the organization’s Facility Manager to design the space. The overall objective was to make the space as efficient as possible while supplying the organization with pre-owned furniture. APG also managed the move to its new headquarters. Upon completion of the project, APG assisted the organization in donating its previously used furniture to non-profit organizations.
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News Station
Product: Herman Miller, Ethospace system
About the Client
News station that is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio with over 150 employees at this location.
Strategy
The news station desired a new state-of-the-art facility and a new brand image to be recognized with its affiliated stations. The company also planned to integrate new digital technology.
Results
APG worked in conjunction with KZF Design Inc. to develop custom workstations with inherit flexibility for future growth and technology integration. The entire project, which was scheduled to be completed in three years, was designed and installed in an 18-month period.
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Coatings Manufacturer
Product: Herman Miller, Ethospace system, Refurbished Q system & AO 120 system
About the Client
A coating manufacturer headquartered in Strongsville, Ohio is part of a larger group who is one of the world’s largest producers of specialty products and paints. The manufacturer produces widely respected and tradition rich decorative coatings brands.
Strategy
The coatings manufacturer moved into a new building to change the way its business operated. Before, every employee was in a private office spread over several floors which made it difficult to have face to face interaction. The manufacturer’s main objective was to have a facility with an open plan environment.
Results
The coatings manufacturer applied APG’s knowledge in move management, installation, asset inventory management, and design during its relocation. APG worked with each department to focus on its needs and made sure each employee felt comfortable with the furniture in the redesigned open workspace. APG traveled to multiple facilities to ensure the manufacturer’s employees was comfortable in the new space.
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Financial Institution
Product: Ethospace system
About the Client
Financial institution that is an affiliate of a larger financial group headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. The financial group has more than 141 years of serving the financial needs of its customers by providing innovative retail and commercial financial products and services through over 700 regional offices.
Strategy
The financial institution had a new branch built from the ground up with the intent of offering expanded services to its customers. The outdated branch was replaced with a more spacious branch that offered greater customer visibility and drive up services.
Results
Working with a local design firm, APG was able to provide a unique, clean, and contemporary space. Particular attention was given to the finish selections to provide attractive yet highly functional and durable products. APG also provided floor coverings and other ancillary items. This project was an immense success for the client giving its employees more work space to operate, while offering its customers an inviting and attractive banking atmosphere.
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