By Kevin Meyer
It's been a while since we updated you on Joseph Abboud, the suit manufacturing that is leveraging lean manufacturing to keep its factory in the United States. Dan discovered them in early 2007, and that led to a series of posts on their operations. Why are they special? CEO Marty Staff and President Tony Sapienza truly understand the power of lean.
One of the changes not in store, however, is the addition of multiple shifts. "We're a one-shift factory," Mr. Staff said, explaining how that fits with the family orientation of its mostly Portuguese workforce. How refreshing to see a leader not only focus on the business side of lean (reducing waste, providing faster response time, etc.), but recognize that respect for employees is at the core of lean.
Sapienza, president of the Joseph Abboud suit factory, and Pepicelli, who runs its union, are working hand in glove. Union and management are collaborating to revamp timeworn garment-making methods in favor of manufacturing techniques pioneered at Toyota Motor Corp. Their goal: Survival in the face of cheaper foreign competitors.
Later that year I had the privilege of moderating a panel discussion at Kellogg on the topic of onshoring as a competitive advantage. Not really a popular topic in the outsourcing heyday of a couple years ago. But Tony showed up as did several others who believed in the power of short supply chains and highly creative people, and we had a good exchange. Coincidentally a panel on the joys of outsourcing ran right after mine, and of course I couldn't resist some pithy comments.
Tony Sapienza and Joseph Abboud are in the news again, and once again he's promoting the value of employees - not the cost. This time he's trying to squeeze more out of the lean nut by helping ensure his team can communicate.
Joseph Abboud Manufacturing Corp., whose employees are almost 90 percent foreign-born, has been offering workers English classes for nine years, an effort that was started with the help of the employees' union.
Anthony R. Sapienza, president of Abboud, a New Bedford manufacturer of men's clothing, believes proficiency in English helps businesses and opens up more job opportunities to the workers.
I can't imagine what his industry has been like over the past couple years, but I'm sure like most it hasn't been pleasant. So to continue this level of investment in his people really means something.
Sapienza said English skills increase efficiency in a business, reduce errors and improve retention of the employees.
Manufacturing emphasizes these days an approach known as "lean manufacturing," which involves teamwork. This type of collaboration is not possible with "15 different people speaking 15 different languages," Sapienza said.
Good to hear they're surviving. Anyone need a suit?