1. COM Made Easy
A step-by-step guide for working with COM’s

2. Getting Started
Definition: COM or Customers Own Material is generally defined by Haworth as any non-standard textile, laminate or wall covering material. However our “Request COM” tool also accommodates requests for new custom stains and paint matches.
Go to the website : All Haworth surface materials, including any COM that we tested previously, can be found on our website at surfaces.haworth.com.
You will also want to review the information in the COM Info section.

3. Does Haworth Test COM’s?
Seating Upholstery
Haworth does not require physical testing of seating fabrics on most product lines.
Current exceptions are shown on the test request form and include, Riverbend, Pebble, Poppy, Fern, Harbor Lounge and Openest seating products; these require yardage for testing.
Haworth does an evaluation (test) of the fabric construction and applicability based on memo samples. We will obtain the memo samples for you.
Vertical/Systems Fabric
Haworth does test vertical fabric for application on its systems product.
The Request COM form provides information on how much test yardage is needed.
Wall Covering
Haworth does test wall coverings for application on its wall products.
Laminate
Haworth does not require physical testing of COM laminate.
We do require that two samples be submitted with the Request COM form.

4. How do I determine if a COM has already been tested?
There are two ways:
Once in the website simply click on the category of COM you wish to specify (in the Customer Own Material library) and proceed thru the drop down menus. The other option if you know the pattern name, is to use the Search feature.
Only previously tested fabrics, laminates, and wall coverings will come up on a Search.
COM paint and stains are not listed as they are unique to a particular customer request. (However, as noted earlier, the Request COM form should be used for custom paint and stain matches.)

5. If you find the COM you are looking for:
Confirm that the material is available on the product you wish to specify.
Click on the material and scroll through the list of product and exceptions:

6. If you find the COM you are looking for:
Vertical fabrics show actual test results as we trial the fabric on product. Be sure the product you wish to specify has been tested and approved.

7. I found the pattern I need. How do I specify it on product?
If a COM has been requested previously the supplier color name or number is below the image. Our order entry code will be shown below that. This is the 7F-AHJ code in the example below for Carnegie Bangle fabric.
Note the fabric has been assigned price grade F. For Graded In fabrics no other charges apply.
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8. What if the pattern is shown but the color I need is not listed?
If the color you need is not shown you will need to submit a Request COM form. This will allow us to create a new order entry code.
Verify the color you want is available through the supplier by clicking on their website link (see previous slide).
You do not need to send in fabric memo samples for seating upholstery. Haworth will obtain any memo samples needed from the supplier.
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9. Completing the Request COM form
Click on “Request COM”.
Note: ALL test requests must be submitted through this form. Do NOT send test requests to the COM department address!
This is a very easy to use, electronic form. Use the drop down menu to select which material type of COM you wish to enquire about, then fill out your information. Make sure to include your complete address and phone number.
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10. Completing the Request COM form
Please make sure to read the Notes for each COM as it contains important information unique to each material.
For example see seating notes below.
Fill out all the text fields; many are drop down.
For the same fabric pattern you can request multiple colors on the same form. Just type in the color names/codes in that field. However, you can not request multiple patterns on the same form.
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11. Completing the Request COM form
Make sure you select which specific product(s) you want the material approved on. Just clicking ‘All’ may not give our COM group the information they need as there can be material restrictions based on individual products.
You may see some text fields/drop down menus may have a small ‘?’ next to it. You can click on that ‘?’ to find out additional information. In the example below, an illustration of what the fabric direction means will come up – see the following slide.
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12. Completing the Request COM form
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13. Completing the Request COM form
Once all your information is filled out, hit ‘Next’ at the bottom, right hand corner, to go to the next page.
The next page will let you confirm your information is correct. You can do any corrections/changes on this page (select ‘Make Changes’) and when everything is correct, hit ‘Submit’.
Once you hit Submit, you will see a Thank You screen for your submission. Hit ‘Close’ and it will bring you to a print screen. We strongly recommend you print out and save a copy of the form you are submitting. (You can also save it as a pdf by going to Change.)
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14. Completing the Request COM form
For custom stain and paint requests we recommend you send the form in with your sample for match. For paint, you can just include the Pantone or RAL number. 
Print off the shipping label and information to send in any samples per that COM form.
Once you are done with this form, and you want to request another COM, you can hit ‘Start a New Form’. Your name and dealer information will already be populated.
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15. How do I check the status of my request?
Requests are automatically assigned a ticket in our Remedy Force tracking tool.
To check on the status of your request simply refer to the tracking number on your acknowledgement.
Our goal is to respond to all requests within 24 hours. Please do not enter a new remedy request for the same COM material.
All correspondence should be submitted through your Remedy Force requests. There is no need to /copy individual members at Haworth as this will simply duplicate traffic.
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16. Haworth Graded In Versus Non Graded Fabric COM’s
Graded In means a price grade is assigned. For pricing purposes it is treated the same as a standard fabric.
Non Graded means the COM is priced at Grade A.
Haworth orders the fabric and adds the cost plus a 4% processing fee to your invoice.

17. Benefits of Graded In COM’s
Non Graded
Pricing
The COM cost is included in the cost of the product. There are no additional fees.
Fabric costs plus a 4% handling fee is added to your invoice.
Preparing a Quote (yardage)
There is no need to calculate yardage.
Yardage will need to be calculated
Preparing a Quote (pricing)
There are no separate COM charges (see pricing above).
When quoting you will need to contact the COM supplier to obtain a cost per yard. A separate 4% handling fee needs to be added to the fabric cost.
Acknowledgement
At time of order placement Lynx will acknowledge a final cost.
At order placement Lynx will acknowledge the product cost only. Haworth will determine the yardage and place an order for the fabric. Haworth’s cost plus 4% will be manually added to the Lynx order and a net change acknowledgement will be sent. This may take an additional 10 days.

18. Benefits of Graded In COM’s
Non Graded
Pricing Errors
There is no risk of a pricing error as Haworth will acknowledge a single price for the product and the fabric.
Due to price change timing in some instances pricing quoted by the jobber to the dealer may be different that what is quoted to Haworth at time of order placement.
Yardage Errors
There is no reason for your to calculate or be concerned with yardage. This is the responsibility of Haworth.
You must use price book yardage call outs and manually calculate yardage. In addition, fabric repeat must be calculated for seating. These calculations introduces the possibly for human error.
Quoting
Lynx will allow the use of ‘quote only’ codes for each available price grade. Even if you have not made a final COM selection you can obtain a quote.
When quoting there is no automated way to obtain a price. You must manually calculate yardage, plus the COM cost per yard and the 4% handling fee.

19. It's that easy!
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