A manufacturing process involving a series of discrete operations can be modified by adding, removing, or reordering operations, without design changes to the equipment. The manufacturing process uses a frame comprising one or more alignment tabs. Each alignment tab comprises an alignment element. The alignment element interacts with a corresponding alignment element at a manufacturing station to identify to the manufacturing station the position and orientation of the frame. The frame supports a material in a known position and orientation relative to the frame, allowing the manufacturing station to infer the position and orientation of the pliable material on the frame from the interaction of the alignment elements on the frame and the manufacturing station. The operations at any particular manufacturing station can therefore be positioned independent of what operations, if any, have come before, or in what order.

A manufacturing process involving a series of discrete operations can be modified by adding, removing, or reordering operations, without design changes to the equipment. The manufacturing process uses a frame comprising one or more alignment tabs. Each alignment tab comprises an alignment element. The alignment element interacts with a corresponding alignment element at a manufacturing station to identify to the manufacturing station the position and orientation of the frame. The frame supports a material in a known position and orientation relative to the frame, allowing the manufacturing station to infer the position and orientation of the pliable material on the frame from the interaction of the alignment elements on the frame and the manufacturing station. The operations at any particular manufacturing station can therefore be positioned independent of what operations, if any, have come before, or in what order.

A method for modifying a high heel shoe to reduce the angulation of the wearer's foot includes obtaining an external pad defining an outer contour and having a top surface, the external pad being at least as large as the area of the toe region outsole that contacts the ground when a wearer walks and having a thickness within the range of one half inch to two inches. The toe region of the shoe outsole is cleaned and the external pad is affixed to the toe region of the shoe outsole. The outer contour of the external pad is trimmed to conform to the outer contour of the outsole.

A method for modifying a high heel shoe to reduce the angulation of the wearer's foot includes obtaining an external pad defining an outer contour and having a top surface, the external pad being at least as large as the area of the toe region outsole that contacts the ground when a wearer walks and having a thickness within the range of one half inch to two inches. The toe region of the shoe outsole is cleaned and the external pad is affixed to the toe region of the shoe outsole. The outer contour of the external pad is trimmed to conform to the outer contour of the outsole.

An article of cleated footwear includes an outsole plate and an upper. The outsole plate includes a rigid first member and a second rigid member. The first rigid member extends substantially along the length of the outsole, and the rigid second member is attached to the first member. The first member and/or the second member has a ground-engaging profile. The upper is attached to the first member.

An article of cleated footwear includes an outsole plate and an upper. The outsole plate includes a rigid first member and a second rigid member. The first rigid member extends substantially along the length of the outsole, and the rigid second member is attached to the first member. The first member and/or the second member has a ground-engaging profile. The upper is attached to the first member.

A shoe, a shoe production system and a method for producing a shoe including the steps: a. providing an upper assembly (2), wherein the upper assembly includes an upper (3) being mounted on a carrier (4), wherein the upper (3) includes a bottom section (5) being made from a thermoplastic polymer upper material; b. providing a sole molding unit (6), wherein the sole molding unit defines a cavity; c. inserting the upper assembly (2) at least partially into the cavity; introducing a midsole polymer composition comprising a molten thermoplastic polymer midsole material which has a melting temperature being equal or higher than the melting temperature of the thermoplastic polymer upper material into the cavity and foaming the molten thermoplastic polymer midsole material inside the cavity to provide a foamed midsole and to establish a material-bonded connection between the upper (3) and the foamed midsole (8).

A shoe, a shoe production system and a method for producing a shoe including the steps: a. providing an upper assembly (2), wherein the upper assembly includes an upper (3) being mounted on a carrier (4), wherein the upper (3) includes a bottom section (5) being made from a thermoplastic polymer upper material; b. providing a sole molding unit (6), wherein the sole molding unit defines a cavity; c. inserting the upper assembly (2) at least partially into the cavity; introducing a midsole polymer composition comprising a molten thermoplastic polymer midsole material which has a melting temperature being equal or higher than the melting temperature of the thermoplastic polymer upper material into the cavity and foaming the molten thermoplastic polymer midsole material inside the cavity to provide a foamed midsole and to establish a material-bonded connection between the upper (3) and the foamed midsole (8).

An article of footwear is disclosed that includes at least one of a stretchable upper and an articulated sole structure. The upper may include an exterior layer and an interior layer. The exterior layer forms at least a portion of an exterior of the upper, and the exterior layer includes a plurality of incisions that extend through the exterior layer. The interior layer is located adjacent an inner surface of the exterior layer, and the interior layer is exposed through the incisions. The sole structure may include a connecting portion and a plurality of discrete sole elements. The connecting portion is positioned adjacent the upper and may extend along a longitudinal length of the upper. The sole elements extend from the connecting portion, and the sole elements are separated by a plurality of sipes that extend upward into the sole structure.

An article of footwear is disclosed that includes at least one of a stretchable upper and an articulated sole structure. The upper may include an exterior layer and an interior layer. The exterior layer forms at least a portion of an exterior of the upper, and the exterior layer includes a plurality of incisions that extend through the exterior layer. The interior layer is located adjacent an inner surface of the exterior layer, and the interior layer is exposed through the incisions. The sole structure may include a connecting portion and a plurality of discrete sole elements. The connecting portion is positioned adjacent the upper and may extend along a longitudinal length of the upper. The sole elements extend from the connecting portion, and the sole elements are separated by a plurality of sipes that extend upward into the sole structure.