What Went Wrong at Camillus

[Johnny11758]

I just knew my old employer, The Syracuse (NY) Post-Standard, would get to the nitty gritty of the Camillus story. Thanks, Charley H., for some very fine reporting and writing:


http://www.syracuse.com/poststandard/stories/index.ssf?/base/business-7/117369009010720.xml&coll=1:thumbup:

 

[mete]

Sounds basically like there was a crisis and the management just didn't respond ...I pass by the Shrade plant occasionally and it's always a sad memory.

 

[okbohn]

very sad--we didn't need to lose another one.

 

[Dog Man]

Sounds basically like there was a crisis and the management just didn't respond

I disagree.

The Syracuse (NY) Post-Standard: "Or perhaps, simply, the time had come for a company with antiquated buildings and equipment, foreign competitors barking at the door and high manufacturing costs."

The cutlery industry is subject to the same principles of economics as any other industry. Evolve and adapt, or die.

 

[stjames]

"The value in the company was in the skill of the sharpeners and the skill of the employees,"

That stands out to me as a member of the working force. The value of labor in American Industry is all but ignored in todays world.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

From what I have read there was a combination of factors, but poor management was definitely a big part of what went wrong. The people that ran the company seemed to have no idea how to keep up with the times.

 

[nim145]

Why doesn't Camillus sell the patents and designs of their top selling knives to another knife manufacturing company? Or does this create legal problems with the knife designers?

 

[Buddiiee]

create legal problems? not if it the patents were sold.

 

[Bob W]

Why doesn't Camillus sell the patents and designs of their top selling knives to another knife manufacturing company? Or does this create legal problems with the knife designers?

The bank probably will sell off the "intellectual property," like what happened at Schrade, and then Camillus knives will be imported from China. the article says that Taylor tried to buy the patents to do just that, but the bank wants to sell the assets intact. The bank will give up that strategy once they figure out that no one wants to buy an outdated ineffecient factory with no employees.

I suspect in the end you'll get your wish, Chinese Camillus knives imported by Taylor or someone else.

-Bob

 

[Sword and Shield]

*pukes*

Taylor Schrades and Taylor Camillus... I'm going to be sick. I'd rather see those old marks die than be left to that.