Title: A laboratory for industrial research on mass customisation in the footwear industry

Authors: Claudia Redaelli, Marzio Sorlini, Claudio R. Boer

Addresses: Institute of Industrial Technology and Automation, National Research Council of Italy, Via Bassini 15, 20133 Milano, Italy. ' Institute of Industrial Technology and Automation, National Research Council of Italy, Via Bassini 15, 20133 Milano, Italy. ' Institute of Computer Integrated Manufacturing of Southern Switzerland, Galleria 2, CH-6928 Manno, Switzerland

Abstract: This case study describes and analyses an Italian-based laboratory as a state-of-the-art approach to the mass customisation of shoe design and manufacturing. Based in Italy|s shoemaking capital, Vigevano, the ITIA-CNR Design & Mass Customisation Laboratory (D&MC Lab) covers the entire spectrum of development and production activities of mass-customised shoes: based on a digital foot scan and an evaluation of customers| wishes, customised shoes are manufactured. The case study covers internal changes required during production, information processing and human resources management, and comments on the need to consistently manage the relationships with other external actors of the value chain for successful mass customisation.

Keywords: mass customisation; shoe manufacturing; Italy; footwear industry; footwear market; experimental pilot plant; industrial research; shoe design; digital foot scanning; information processing; human resource management; HRM; value chain.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMASSC.2006.010447

International Journal of Mass Customisation, 2006 Vol.1 No.4, pp.492 - 506

Published online: 22 Jul 2006 *

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