Annie Minoff

But getting rid of all those toothbrushes and all those workers wasn't as simple as Tom imagined.

But getting rid of all those toothbrushes and all those workers wasn't as simple as Tom imagined.

But getting rid of all those toothbrushes and all those workers wasn't as simple as Tom imagined.

By 2016, Nike and Flex had set up a sneaker factory in Guadalajara, Mexico. But it didn't take long for the project to run into problems.

By 2016, Nike and Flex had set up a sneaker factory in Guadalajara, Mexico. But it didn't take long for the project to run into problems.

By 2016, Nike and Flex had set up a sneaker factory in Guadalajara, Mexico. But it didn't take long for the project to run into problems.

That's our colleague John again.

That's our colleague John again.

That's our colleague John again.

The project's success hinged on Nike's ability to cut costs, including by replacing humans with machines. But that was turning out to be easier said than done. For example, an early challenge was getting robots to attach the Nike swoosh to the side of the shoe. Here's Tom from Flex.

The project's success hinged on Nike's ability to cut costs, including by replacing humans with machines. But that was turning out to be easier said than done. For example, an early challenge was getting robots to attach the Nike swoosh to the side of the shoe. Here's Tom from Flex.

The project's success hinged on Nike's ability to cut costs, including by replacing humans with machines. But that was turning out to be easier said than done. For example, an early challenge was getting robots to attach the Nike swoosh to the side of the shoe. Here's Tom from Flex.

It took Tom and his team eight months to figure out an automated way to add the Nike swoosh to one specific shoe model.

It took Tom and his team eight months to figure out an automated way to add the Nike swoosh to one specific shoe model.

It took Tom and his team eight months to figure out an automated way to add the Nike swoosh to one specific shoe model.

Now the swoosh is slightly to the right. Fine.

Now the swoosh is slightly to the right. Fine.

Now the swoosh is slightly to the right. Fine.

Another problem was fashion. At Nike, design was king. And the company didn't want to be limited by what robots could handle.

Another problem was fashion. At Nike, design was king. And the company didn't want to be limited by what robots could handle.