E0807 - Driving Profitability with Strategy, Data and People, Laurie Harbour, Wipfli

In this episode of the Destiny of Manufacturing podcast, host Dean Phillips welcomes Laurie Harbour of Wipfli for a deep dive into how manufacturers can build resilient, profitable businesses amid constant change. Laurie shares key insights on: The importance of short- and long-term strategy for navigating economic shifts and policy changes. Using "swim lanes" and data-driven decision-making to boost scheduling efficiency and profitability. Aligning sales and operations for smarter quoting and production planning. Identifying and managing unprofitable parts and customers. Leveraging ERP and shop floor data to find hidden opportunities. Embracing generational collaboration and internal innovation to drive continuous improvement. Why workforce development, leadership succession and "knowing your why" are critical to a thriving future. This episode is packed with practical advice for manufacturers aiming to stay competitive, improve margins and prepare for long-term success. About the Guest: Laurie Harbour Laurie Harbour is a partner at Wipfli with more than 35 years of manufacturing and consulting experience. Prior to joining Wipfli, she was the co-owner of Harbour Results, Inc., and has spent her career helping clients develop strategies, improve operations, reduce risk and optimize business performance. Clients benefit from Laurie's ability to work with leadership teams to assess the current state of their business and provide strategic and operational recommendations for improvement. Laurie's specializations include business strategy, leadership development, operational improvement, benchmarking, sales strategy and talent management. About Wipfli LLC Wipfli is a top 25 advisory firm with a strong CPA foundation serving 59,000 clients across today's most complex industries. For more than 90 years, Wipfli has evolved and grown to help its clients take on whatever comes next. Wipfli's more than 3,200 associates help its clients with services that range from business consulting and digital services to audit and accounting. Wipfli focuses on emerging and mid-market organizations with specialized knowledge in industries like financial institutions, financial services, manufacturing, distribution, healthcare, construction, real estate, government, nonprofit, agriculture, auto dealerships, technology and tribal gaming and government. Wipfli has been a PMA member company since 2023.