Tradition Meets Transformation: Leadership Strategies to Revitalize Manufacturing

by Laurie Harbour, Scott Walton

Overview

Laurie Harbour wants you to think differently about manufacturing.

Laurie’s career reflects her role as one of the most influential women working in manufacturing. As the president and CEO of Harbour Results Inc., Laurie leads a team of analysts and manufacturing consultants to help small- to medium-sized manufacturers develop short- and long-term strategies, improve their operations, reduce risks, and optimize business.

This expertise has made her a trusted adviser to the North American manufacturing industry. It has also equipped her with unique insight into the trends that will shape manufacturing in the next decade, trends that today’s leaders must prepare to meet and master.

Laurie’s message is clear: “Manufacturing is at a major tipping point and we are facing a huge generational shift in how people work and their expectations. Things are changing in manufacturing, and leaders need different priorities.”

In this book, Laurie shares clear and targeted strategies that will equip the next generation of manufacturing leadership to steer their companies to new levels of success. This is a playbook rich in actionable content leaders at all levels can use to generate operational excellence, develop a more robust labor strategy, leverage automation and data, and create future companies today.

Laurie dispels many of the myths about manufacturing, sharing her knowledge and speaking honestly to the industry’s potential and its challenges. This is a practical and deeply engaging book, one that will encourage the next generation of leaders to think differently about manufacturing and provide steps and actions those leaders can use to impact manufacturing’s future.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798887501369
Publisher:	Advantage Media Group, Inc.
Publication date:	01/30/2024
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.00(d)

About the Author

As president and CEO of Harbour Results, Inc. (HRI), LAURIE HARBOUR leads a team of analysts and manufacturing consultants to help small- to medium- sized manufacturers develop short- and long-term strategies, improve their operations, reduce risks and optimize business.

Driven by her passion for manufacturing which developed at a young age when her father took her weekly to the Chrysler plant in Hamtramck, MI she has pushed for more woman and diversity in manufacturing. Laurie told her father at 12 that she wanted to be in manufacturing and he told her no that wasn’t possible – it was too hard and she was a girl. That fueled a fight inside of her to make an impact in manufacturing for the rest of her career. Spending most of her life around the manufacturing industry and later being mentored by her father Jim Harbour, she utilized her experience and knowledge to found HRI in 2005. Since that time, she partnered with Scott Walton in 2007 and further grew in her manufacturing capability. Laurie, along with Scott have been responsible for developing both the consulting services and targeted tools to profitably grow the organization into a leading manufacturing consulting firm.

As a trusted advisor to the North American manufacturing industry, HRI monitors, researches and analyzes the manufacturing value stream to identify strengths and weaknesses, gaps and risks, and business and operational opportunities in an effort to help the industry transform to be more successful in the global marketplace. Additionally, the company is the leading forecaster for the automotive tool and die industry, collecting and analyzing data on a regular basis through Harbour IQ, a proprietary market intelligence tool that collects thousands of data points from hundreds of manufacturing companies annually. Laurie and her team utilize this data along with their expertise to help companies solve problems, improve business and advocate on behalf of the manufacturing industry. As an industry thought-leader, she is regularly quoted in both business and trade magazines. Additionally, she speaks to companies and at forums on topics such leadership, cultural transformation, supplier collaboration, manufacturing, overall business operations improvement and manufacturing forecasting. In 2018, she was named Crain’s "Notable Women in Manufacturing" and Plastics News’ "Women Breaking the Mold." Additionally, she was named Plastics News "Automotive Newsmaker of the Year" for 2018.

SCOTT WALTON is chief operating officer and chief financial officer at Harbour Results, Inc. With more than 30 years of experience in strategic planning, operations management, lean manufacturing and supply chain management, he has assisted multi-national companies, government entities and business professionals worldwide. Walton’s expertise lays in automotive, plastics, defense and distribution. He works closely with automotive, manufacturing and distribution companies to assess their business needs on a strategic, financial and operational level. Walton is also an expert at restructuring manufacturing companies with a focus on quickly diagnosing key issues and developing plans to restructure finance, sales and particularly the operations of the company. Scott oversees the Harbour team of senior consultants that assists clients in implementing operational and strategic changes, drive throughput and improve profitability.

Prior to joining HRI, Walton was president of the automotive market segment for Nypro Inc., a global leader in custom plastic injection molding where he was responsible for development and deployment of auto strategy on a worldwide scale. In addition, he held operational responsibility within four automotive-focus factories (two in the U.S. and two in Mexico) and a sales/engineering office in Detroit. In addition to his work at Nypro, Walton has held various leadership and operational roles both domestically and internationally. He also is a skilled communicator and frequently presents at manufacturing industry forums and events as well as directly to manufacturing companies.

Together Laurie and Scott have built a niche consulting firm based on the use of data and market intelligence to help companies understand where they stack up and how to drive improvement quickly. Their passion for manufacturing is evident in all that they do and their commitment to their clients is second to none. They get out of bed every day to make an impact in the lives of all they encounter daily and to make a difference in North American manufacturing.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Chapter 1
Uncovering the Possibilities
Chapter 2
Operational Excellence and the Importance of Being Real
Chapter 3
The Labor Challenge That Just Won’t Go Away
Chapter 4
Setting Course to Secure the Future
Chapter 5
The Well-Tuned Commercial Strategy
Chapter 6
Traveling the Technology Road Map
Chapter 7
Shift Change—Leading into the Future
Conclusion
The Hub of the Wheel
About the Authors
Get In Touch

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“No secret—North American manufacturing is at dire risk. Laurie Harbour and Scott Walton attack this threat head-on in Tradition Meets Transformation. At last, the roadmap to navigate from where you are to where you need to be! For business owners and leaders, your opportunity is to now take action!”
—Jack Daly
CEO, Coach, and World Recognized Serial Entrepreneur


“Using their many years of experience, Laurie and Scott provide the tools and processes to ensure your organization is addressing the rapidly changing—and increasingly competitive—twenty-first-century manufacturing industry. Their knowledge is backed by real-life anecdotes and success stories, which demonstrate how to implement their methodologies to create clear improvements and next-generation leadership for your entire manufacturing organization.”
—Julie Fream
President and CEO, MEMA Original Equipment Suppliers


“I have known Laurie Harbour and Scott Walton for years and value the partnership and friendship we have formed. They are the best in the business for manufacturers to glean insights from. As the industry looks to attract next-generation leaders, this must-read book combines Laurie and Scott’s expert knowledge with modern strate - gies for manufacturing leaders to drive the industry into the future.”
—Dave Klotz President, Precision Metalforming Association



“Laurie and the Harbour Results team are keenly focused on improving North American manufacturing. Continuous improvement isn’t an option; it is table stakes for those with the desire to survive in manufacturing.”
—Mike Meyer
President, NADCA


“Laurie and Scott have combined theory and practice into a meaningful guide for manufacturing leaders.”
—Noel Ginsburg Founder and CEO, CareerWise Colorado and Founder and Chairman, Intertech Holdings LLC


“In Tradition Meets Transformation: Leadership Strategies to Revitalize Manufacturing, Scott and Laurie capture the essence of adaptability and growth strategies for manufacturing executives in a business landscape that will continue to rapidly change. With the guideposts of years of experience and analysis, this book serves as a valuable compass, provides practical guidance, and illuminates the path to sustainable success in a fast-changing world. A must-read for those seeking to understand leadership, leverage emerging methodologies, and position their businesses at the forefront of the future.”
—Troy Nix
Business Leader, Author of Eternal Impact: Inspire Greatness In Yourself and Others , Motivational Speaker, and Military Veteran


“Laurie and Scott are subject matter manufacturing experts. I have had the privilege of being both a client and a colleague. If you are looking for a road map on how to fix a plant, or more importantly being the leader who drives the change, then this is the book for you.”
—Michael A Haughey
President and CEO, North American Stamping Group