Tradition Meets Transformation: Leadership Strategies to Revitalize Manufacturing

Written by Laurie Harbour

Narrated by Chris McCloy

In a world of evolving competition, economic challenges, and technological advancements, the success of North American manufacturing hinges on one critical element: leadership. In Tradition Meets Transformation, authors Laurie Harbour and Scott Walton emphasize the pivotal role of leadership in driving transformation and generational improvement within the industry.

Using extensive research and their combined years of experience in the industry, Harbour and Walton explore the five key areas impacting manufacturing enterprises—operations, labor, commercial strategies, vision and strategy, and technology—and underscore the need for effective leadership in revolutionizing the industry.

Manufacturing leaders urgently need to keep up with competition, economics, and technology while preserving practical expertise as retiring leaders take valuable knowledge with them. Without this shift in leadership and the transfer of knowledge, the North American manufacturing industry is at risk of disappearing. Failure to adapt with the next generation will jeopardize its survival in a dynamic global economy. But by taking the right actions, initiatives, and practices, the industry can reclaim its innovative spirit.

This book serves as a call to action, urging transformation, recovery, and the revival of the pioneering spirit that defined North American manufacturing. The time to nurture the next generation of leaders and shift our collective mindset is now. In doing so, we can ensure a prosperous future for this vital sector.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Advantage Media Group, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 30, 2024
• ISBN: 9798887504513

Laurie Harbour

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.