Adjustments in production costs linked to the redesign of wooden chairs for the bariatric population

Purpose – Current furniture design principles fail to keep pace with the global rise in obesity. This study aims to address this issue by proposing a novel methodology for manufacturing cost estimation of common-use chairs that can accommodate even severely obese individuals.
Design/methodology/approach – The approach prioritizes universal design principles and user safety while ensuring furniture producers’ economic viability. This study utilizes real-world data to determine the establish appropriate load capacity for common-use chairs. Empirical height and weight data were collected from 7,938 young Slovakian men (aged 18–25) between 2001 and 2023. Additionally, data on Slovakia’s bariatric population, encompassing all genders, were obtained from medical facilities (2020–2024).
Findings – Considering the 95th percentile weight among bariatric individuals, the authors factored in a 20% design safety margin. This resulted in a target load capacity of 230 kg for all chairs designed for common use – a significant increase from the standard 110 kg capacity. An essential contribution of this study is a method for estimating chair production cost based on its designed load capacity. This method’s calculations reveal that the redesigned chair is estimated to cost 11.6% more than a standard chair. However, considering its ability to cater to broader user needs, this price point remains competitive.
Practical implications – The research indicates that the standard load capacity of common-use chairs should be substantially increased to accommodate the growing obese population. The study offers a methodology for estimating the cost implications of designing chairs with a higher load capacity, enabling manufacturers to assess the economic feasibility of implementing such changes.