I've been a reviews analyst in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab for nearly five years and a trained cook for much longer. During that time, I've tested plenty of stand mixers, including the iconic KitchenAid—a model I already knew well after decades of using one at home. So when KitchenAid invited me to tour its Ohio factory, it truly was a pinch-me moment. I got a behind-the-scenes look at how the mixers are made and even learned how to build one myself. Here's what goes into it.
One of my favorite parts of my job is touring factories.
Seeing how an appliance is designed, assembled, and tested gives me a much deeper appreciation for the products I recommend—and helps me understand what really sets them apart. My visit to the KitchenAid factory in Greenville, Ohio, was no exception.
It took nearly a full day to get there from Newark, New Jersey, but it was well worth the trip. Every KitchenAid stand mixer has been made at this factory since 1942. While it's not the brand's only manufacturing facility, it's the only one dedicated to producing stand mixers, with the help of nearly 900 employees.
When I first arrived at the KitchenAid factory, I had to suit up in protective gear: earplugs, safety glasses, shoe covers, and a bright yellow vest so employees knew I was a visitor. I was also given a headset since the factory is so loud that we'd need it to hear our tour guide.
The moment I stepped onto the factory floor, I was mesmerized. There were numerous assembly lines, bins filled with stand mixer parts and accessories, and finished mixers everywhere I looked. While hundreds of employees kept the lines moving, I also spotted robots weaving through the factory floor, transporting parts from one area to another.
Various parts waiting to be assembled
Hundreds of stand mixer accessories
Of everything I saw, watching the stand mixers get painted was one of the coolest parts.
While I assumed the stand mixers would be painted near the end of the assembly process, I was surprised to learn that each individual part is painted before the mixers are put together. We watched hundreds of parts suspended from an overhead conveyor move through the paint line, where just a handful of employees sprayed each one with an even coat of color. The workers wore head-to-toe protective suits with built-in ventilation systems, and our tour guide shared that the paint itself is a fine powder similar to what's used for dip or SNS manicures.
Parts before getting painted
During the painting process
Then I got to try my hand at building a KitchenAid stand mixer.
At the end of the tour, I learned there's an assembly line dedicated entirely to training new factory employees. Then it was my turn to get to work.
I was paired with a trainer who guided me through building a stand mixer from start to finish—not just any stand mixer, but the new KitchenAid Artisan Plus. The only factory experience I'd had before was making hand-extruded pasta right out of college, so assembling a kitchen appliance was completely new territory.
The entire training process took about 15 to 20 minutes, but it was more challenging than I expected. I quickly found myself using tools I'd never handled before, including a powerful drill used to secure the mixer's bolts. More than once, I didn't position a bolt perfectly, so we had to remove it and start over. It had to be centered exactly right, and even the smallest mistake meant trying again.
One thing I appreciated was that I rotated through several different steps of the assembly process instead of repeating the same task. I learned that's how the factory operates, too—employees switch stations throughout the day so they're constantly using different skills. By the end, I had a whole new appreciation for the people who build these mixers every day. My arms were a little sore from handling the drill for less than 20 minutes, and the experience made it clear just how much skill, precision, and stamina the job requires.
During my training
Assembly line
Why I'll never look at my stand mixer the same way again.
After seeing and experiencing everything that goes into building a KitchenAid stand mixer, I'll never look at mine the same way again. From the designers and engineers to the factory workers on the assembly line, every person plays a role in bringing each mixer to life. I learned firsthand that assembling one isn't easy work. You're on your feet all day, and every step requires patience, precision, and attention to detail. The next time I pull mine out to bake a batch of cookies or knead bread dough, I'll be thinking about all of the people and craftsmanship behind it.
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Eva Bleyer is the reviews analyst in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab. She has tested a wide range of kitchen appliances and gear for GH, including gas ranges, bread cloches, and kitchen scales. She holds a B.S. in Food Studies, Nutrition, and Public Health from New York University. She's also a graduate of the Natural Gourmet Institute's culinary school. Bleyer uses a KitchenAid stand mixer often in the Lab for testing and at home for her many baking projects.
