The decision process that eventually landed us in Idaho was long a convoluted.
Initially we were looking for solutions that did not involve relocation.
We looked at fabricating our parts in San Diego (controlling the quality and heat treat) and having all the assembly done in Mexico. We felt we could control the quality because we were right on the border and could be in the plant in minutes (not counting border crossing delays).
We also explored the idea of how important manufacturing was to our brand and would we be better off outsourcing all our production and becoming just a marketing company located in San Diego.
As history bears out, the family decided that US Made was critical to our brand and the legacy left by my grandfather and great grandfather.
That was why we relocated to North Idaho and went through the excruciating task of moving not only a factory but all the families associated with that. It is why we adopted lean and continue to drive continuous improvement within the factory to protect our ability to manufacture in the US going into the future.
The Assembled in Mexico items were an exploratory step along that pathway.
I am very pleased we ended up a lean knife factory in Post Falls, Idaho.
