Quabaug Corp. sticks to its roots
By jeffrey t. lavery
When it comes to tradi- tional manufacturing in Massachusetts, most experts will say that many companies face tough times staying afloat. One company that’s bucking that trend is Quabaug Corporation, a North Brookfield-based maker of soling products.
Despite stiff overseas competition and epic closures of shoe manufacturers throughout New England, Quabaug continues to hire more workers, expand to new markets and make business transactions that keep them on top."New England was the shoe capital of the United States," says Kevin Donahue, president and CEO of Quabaug Corp. "We believe that the people we hire care about keeping this company in business."
Better workers mean better business
For Donahue, the 350 workers at Quabaug represent an investment in the future. When the company converted to lean manufacturing four years ago, it signified a commitment to help employees work more efficiently, says Donahue. "Going lean brought people together," notes Donahue, who cites the use of a Kanban system, which eliminates overstock and keeps inventory and manufacturing at an on-demand basis. "It allowed them to change their environment."
The implementation of lean practices meant more than just improved efficiency. For some employees, it defined whether or not they would work at Quabaug. Tom Cantin recalls when he interviewed with the company asking if going lean meant handing out pink slips. "I was interested in working with lean principles, but not if they were used as a tool for layoffs," says Cantin.
In actuality, lean meant improving the manufacturing process and better serving customers who spend their
lives in grueling conditions. Quabaug sells to firefighters and law enforcement officials, and is the largest supplier of outsoles to the U.S. Military. The final product must provide comfort while being long lasting and able to perform in all conditions.
Even so, the shoe industry remains
a shell of what it once was in New England, laments Donahue. Cities like Brockton, Lynn and Haverhill based their livelihood on the factories that lined the streets. However, these towns lost their mainstay industry when the southern states offered up cheaper operating conditions. Now, those manufacturing jobs go overseas, mostly to Asia.
Despite this gloomy history, Quabaug Corp. prospers. In 1965, Quabaug became the North American manufacturer of Viabram soles, an Italy-based firm. In addition to the partnership, Quabaug in 2002 acquired the assets of Biltrite Corporation’s footwear division. "The industry was shrinking," Donahue says, "and we wanted to bring the companies together in hopes of staying in business."
Quabaug also is expanding into other product lines, such as pet training devices and playground turf called Quaboing. "We have to change our mindset," says Donahue. "My primary drive in the last five years has been to diversify the company and enter new markets in a profitable way."
Jeffrey T. Lavery can be reached at jlavery@wbjournal.com
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