Swift, founded in 1906, looks at first glance like any U.S. company. An American flag flies atop the downtown mill and almost all 1,200 employees are locals. Look a little closer, however, and you're likely to see a Japanese engineer practicing his golf swing in front of the denim plant. Shiro Kobayashi, Swift's chairman and one of only two Japanese permanently on staff, says Marubeni has taken a relatively hands-off approach to operating the company. We stick with the original, American way of running things.
Swift employees agree, and few have complaints about their Japanese bosses.
Still, managers have had some adjusting to do. He had trouble convincing Marubeni to expand business into Haiti, a place the Japanese felt was too unstable. He also cites language difficulties, echoing the sentiments of managers around town who admit that Japanese and American employees often resort to drawing pictures when trying to communicate. Edwards, who as a boy hunted doves in the woods where the factory he works now sits, shares the impression many locals have of Japan. Southern life is comfortable with them.