Jon Emont

Yeah, it was definitely ambitious.

Yeah, it was definitely ambitious.

Yeah, it was definitely ambitious.

Many of the people involved in the project did hope that once they got this solved, once they figured out how to make a heavily automated shoe, that then some production could be moved into the United States proper.

Many of the people involved in the project did hope that once they got this solved, once they figured out how to make a heavily automated shoe, that then some production could be moved into the United States proper.

Many of the people involved in the project did hope that once they got this solved, once they figured out how to make a heavily automated shoe, that then some production could be moved into the United States proper.

Flex is a contract manufacturer, so they make things for other companies. And what they're mainly known for making is electronics. So one of their biggest projects ahead of the Nike project was working with Apple to make MacBook Pros in Austin, Texas.

Flex is a contract manufacturer, so they make things for other companies. And what they're mainly known for making is electronics. So one of their biggest projects ahead of the Nike project was working with Apple to make MacBook Pros in Austin, Texas.

Flex is a contract manufacturer, so they make things for other companies. And what they're mainly known for making is electronics. So one of their biggest projects ahead of the Nike project was working with Apple to make MacBook Pros in Austin, Texas.

It became clear how challenging this effort was going to be pretty soon after they started.

It became clear how challenging this effort was going to be pretty soon after they started.

It became clear how challenging this effort was going to be pretty soon after they started.

You know, there are all sorts of challenges to automating shoe production. All the materials you're dealing with are squishy and they sort of change dimensions with the temperature, with humidity. And these are things that humans are, you know, very adept at quickly dealing with. But machines need precision and precision.

You know, there are all sorts of challenges to automating shoe production. All the materials you're dealing with are squishy and they sort of change dimensions with the temperature, with humidity. And these are things that humans are, you know, very adept at quickly dealing with. But machines need precision and precision.

You know, there are all sorts of challenges to automating shoe production. All the materials you're dealing with are squishy and they sort of change dimensions with the temperature, with humidity. And these are things that humans are, you know, very adept at quickly dealing with. But machines need precision and precision.

If the sole of the shoe is a little different from the last sole of the shoe, well, a machine might just put the glue in the wrong place, whereas a human worker would just quickly adapt. And stuff like that just took a while to sort out.

If the sole of the shoe is a little different from the last sole of the shoe, well, a machine might just put the glue in the wrong place, whereas a human worker would just quickly adapt. And stuff like that just took a while to sort out.

If the sole of the shoe is a little different from the last sole of the shoe, well, a machine might just put the glue in the wrong place, whereas a human worker would just quickly adapt. And stuff like that just took a while to sort out.

And suddenly they had to figure it all out again. You know, Nike's producing tons of different new types of shoes all the time. So again, a human workforce is, you know, pretty adaptable. Okay, we're now doing things this way. Okay.

And suddenly they had to figure it all out again. You know, Nike's producing tons of different new types of shoes all the time. So again, a human workforce is, you know, pretty adaptable. Okay, we're now doing things this way. Okay.