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Recording the Run
Applicable Industries
- Apparel
Applicable Functions
- Product Research & Development
Services
- Hardware Design & Engineering Services
The Challenge
Nike is looking for ways to reduce the amount of material and labor needed to make high-performance, customized footwear and speed the delivery of its products to all kinds of athletes. Laser-cutting could scale down the amount of equipment needed to create the 20 to 30 parts of a typical shoe. However, Laser-cutting always leaves burnt edges on soft fabrics.
The Customer
Nike
About The Customer
Nike is an American multinational corporation that is engaged in the design, development, manufacturing and worldwide marketing and sales of footwear, apparel, equipment, accessories and services.
The Solution
Engineers and chemists at Flex, a supply chain innovator specializing in manufacturing and computer hardware, invented a process whereby any material, soft or hard, can be neatly laser-cut into whatever pattern is needed, when it's needed, right on the factory floor. Solution Assessment - Type: IoT - Maturity: Cutting Edge (technology has been on the market for <2 years)
Data Collected
Accuracy, Parts and material pricing, Parts Quality, Speed, Supply Chain Optimization
Operational Impact
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