Giving Furniture Testing a Leg Up
Customer Company Size
Large Corporate
Region
- America
- Europe
Country
- United Kingdom
- United States
Product
- COMSOL Multiphysics®
- COMSOL Server™
Tech Stack
- Numerical Simulation
- Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
Implementation Scale
- Enterprise-wide Deployment
Impact Metrics
- Cost Savings
- Customer Satisfaction
- Productivity Improvements
Technology Category
- Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics
- Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Visualization
Applicable Industries
- Consumer Goods
Applicable Functions
- Product Research & Development
- Quality Assurance
Use Cases
- Predictive Quality Analytics
- Virtual Prototyping & Product Testing
Services
- Software Design & Engineering Services
- System Integration
About The Customer
The customer in this case study is an independent assessment organization, commonly referred to as a 'test house,' that specializes in testing furniture to ensure it meets European and American quality standards (EN, BS, ISO, and ANSI). They test hundreds of different chairs annually, providing certification that allows these products to be sold in stores. The test house sought to streamline the testing process for their clients, who are primarily chair manufacturers and designers. By offering a virtual testing tool, they aimed to help these clients predict the success of their designs before undergoing costly and time-consuming physical tests. This initiative was driven by the need to reduce the financial and operational burden on manufacturers, who often face significant expenses and delays when their designs fail to meet the required standards.
The Challenge
The furniture industry requires rigorous testing to ensure products meet safety and quality standards. This process is costly and time-consuming, often resulting in significant expenses for manufacturers when designs fail. An independent test house aimed to reduce this burden by providing a virtual testing tool to predict whether chair designs would pass or fail before physical testing.
The Solution
Continuum Blue, a COMSOL Certified Consultant, developed a numerical simulation app using COMSOL Multiphysics® software. The app was designed to predict a chair's response to standard loading tests, incorporating various quality criteria and allowing for the testing of different chair models, shapes, and materials. The simulation included chair geometry, floor, blocks to hold the legs in place, and loading plates for the back and base to mimic physical tests. The app analyzed deformation, mechanical stress, and points of failure, providing a comprehensive assessment of whether a chair design would pass or fail. The Continuum Blue team also built a customized user interface that allowed users to quickly run virtual tests by changing inputs related to geometry, load conditions, and material properties. The app was distributed through a local installation of COMSOL Server™, enabling multiple users to access and use the tool. The test house plans to use COMSOL Server to share the app with clients worldwide, further streamlining the testing process.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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