This week we visit Allen Edmonds, a shoe company that resisted the urge to chase cheap labor overseas and instead invested in lean manufacturing. Which is a big reason why I've worn Allen Edmonds for many years. Visit Superfactory for more virtual factory tours.
Karen Wilhelm says
Wish they made women’s shoes too! The Allan Edmonds team would get more ideas by reading my recent article in AME’s Target magazine called “American Made for America’s Game” about GoodGlove Inc in Mass, which produces baseball and softball gloves for Nokona. If they would like an introduction so they can arrange a visit, get in touch with me. Their system is based in part on the sewing system used at Toyota supplier Aisin Seiki. They also invested in a (right-sized) CAD/vision-based die-cutting system that is far superior to the old method of placing dies by hand.
Chris Bayne says
Best. Shoes. Ever.