Feiss Company Records

After receiving a law degree from Harvard, Feiss joined his father's clothing manufacturing business, where he attempted to combine elements of Frederick Taylor's theories of scientific management with his own theories of personal relationship. His goal was to establish a factory in which production was efficient while at the same time the employees had the opportunity to experience personal development, growth, and self actualization.

To improve production, Feiss employed aspects of scientific management, including standardization of equipment, routing instructions, and time studies. To enhance conditions for the workers, he established a program of "Personal Relationships" which gave the workers a chance to participate in decision-making, and also improved the selection, orientation processes. Additionally, workers were offered counseling services, recreational facilities, mental and physical examinations, and other advantages.

Due to economic hardships and personality conflicts among the top managers in Joseph & Feiss, R.A. Feiss resigned from the company in 1925 and went into business on his own. Consequently, the system he developed at Clothcraft crumbled.