We work with contract factories and other industry partners who share our commitment to making products responsibly and sustainably. Lea is one of the many people at Nike whose work is dedicated to understanding and improving factory working conditions. Tohiro shares her story of working at a contract factory. Together, these women’s stories show that we all benefit when workers are engaged.
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In order for issues of compensation, overtime, workplace conditions, and worker engagement to fundamentally shift, workers need to feel valued. To make this change, we developed tools that measure engagement and wellbeing. We also support our suppliers with everything they need to help their workers thrive.
Lean, green, equal, and empowered workplaces are the key to success. Built on a foundation of excellence in lean manufacturing, this approach reduces impact, eliminates waste, and supports skilled and engaged workers as they drive quality and productivity.
We are committed to responsible employment practices and we expect the same of our suppliers. We worked with University of California (Berkeley) academics Dara O’Rourke and Niklas Lollo to explore new ways of increasing the value created in factories and sharing that value with workers. The resulting Compensation and Benefits research pilot focused on changing compensation structures and tracking increases in both factory productivity levels and take-home pay.
Our culture of teamwork at Nike extends throughout our entire supply chain. Our vision is for each supplier team to feel safe, healthy and happy. This requires a true partnership between Nike and our suppliers to provide a hygienic, healthy environment with robust safety management systems, adequate training, and proper information about potential hazards.
Strong HR policies are critical to building an engaged workforce. To set the standard and reach new heights, we invested in HR professionals, systems, and processes to make sure the right people with the right skills fill the roles.
Built on a philosophy of continuous improvement, our lean management framework improves efficiency across the ways people work and how our product is manufactured.
As factories become more automated, the role of the factory worker is evolving. Innovations in technology can help suppliers and workers navigate this changing environment. Smartphone apps, for example, help workers communicate, engage, improve their skills, and identify new opportunities.
