CHAIRS FOR SEWING

Industrial Engineering
Contents

 Chair
 Basic terminology
 Importance
 Common Problems
 Salient features
 BIFMA standards
 Basic measurements
 Specifications
Chair
 A chair is a kind of furniture for sitting, consisting
of a back, and sometimes arm rests, commonly
for use by one person.
 The back of the chair supports some of the
weight of the occupant, reducing the weight on
other parts of the body.
 In general, backrests come in three heights:
 Lower back backrests support only the lumbar region.
 Shoulder height backrests support the entire back and
shoulders.
 Headrests support the head
Basic Terminology
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Backrest

Depth

Seat

Height
Legs
Basic Terminology
 Backrest – It is the raised portion from the seat that gives
support to the back
 Seat – It is a flat surface raised from the ground level that
gives support to the thighs and buttocks.
 Legs – The legs give support to the seat of the chair and
helps to raise the chair above the ground
 Depth – The extent to which the chair gives support to the
thighs.
 Height – The distance of seat above the ground level at
which the body can rest
Importance
The chair is a critical piece of equipment for sewing machine
operators who work in a seated position. It can have a very large
impact on the comfort of the worker and can affect the risk of
muscle pain and injury. It even adds to the fatigue of the operator
if the selection of chair is wrong.

A chair should be such that while working the operator should not
require hands to work above shoulder height on a regular basis.
Arms should be kept low and close to the body. Bending and
twisting of wrists, back and neck should also be avoided.
Common Problems
 Operators are provided with very poor chairs such as stacking
chairs.
 These chairs are not adjustable.
 They provide no cushioning or back support and the edge of the
seat constricts blood flow at the back of the legs because of a
large rounded hump or square edge.
 Often the seat pan is too large, resulting in the backrest not
touching the back of the operator. The seat pan may have an
uncomfortable hump at the front, causing the operator to sit on
the front edge of the seat and not use the backrest
The sewing machine operator spends many
hours seated in chair in front of sewing
machine. So, the chair should fit the body
perfectly and provide firm support.
Salient Features
The good chairs have these features:
1. A chair with a center hydraulic lift system will allow the operator to
adjust the chair height according to his body. It should be such that it
allows the feet to rest flat on the floor with knees bent to form a 90
degree angle. This helps stabilize hips and lower back.
2. The seat should have a forward-tilt adjustment which positions the body
slightly forward to take pressure off the back of legs and keep the back
straighter.
3. The base of chair should be large enough to fit the body. A seat that is
too small will cut into the thighs and make the operator uncomfortable
after only a short time.
4. The seat pan should be large enough to support the operator but small
enough so that he or she can use the backrest
Salient Features

5. A firm cushioning on the backrest and seat pan should be provided

6. The seat should not have a hump on the front edge
7. The base of the chair should be wide enough to avoid tipping. A base
with five casters or "feet" will ensure good balance and stability.
8. The backrest should not interfere with the movement of the shoulder
blades or arms
9. The chair can swivel when operators have to turn sideways frequently
BIFMA standards
The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer's
Association (BIFMA) has given some standards for chair:

 Chair back strength - 68 kg

 Seat strength dropped from six inches (150 mm) above
the seat -102 kg
 Repeat cycle strength of 1,00,000 repetitions of 57 kg
dropped from 2 inches (50 mm) above the seat
Basic Measurements

Back height
14 inches
Seat height
21 – 19 inches

Seat depth
18 inches
Specifications
Seat Specifications
 Height - 21 - 19 inches

 Width – 19 inches

 Depth – 18 inches

Back Specifications
 Height – 14 inches

 Width – 16 inches

Back Adjustment
 Seat – Rear 4-5 degree

- Front 5 – 6 degree
 Back – Inward 8 – 10 degree
- Backward 16 – 17 degree
Specifications

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8-10 degree 16-17 degree

4-5 degree
5-6 degree
Ideal Position while sewing

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Rest Position

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THANK YOU