Automotive Competitive Challenges: Going Beyond Lean

About the study author-Jim Harbour | Download Executive Summary | Order Study

Why have the Detroit Three not been able to close the financial gap with the Japanese Three? This is a key question that continues to be asked within the automotive industry.

We all understand the industry has reached a critical point where tough decisions need to be made in order for companies to thrive in the future. And, for the first time, the critical issues facing the North American and Japanese OEMs are being examined.

It's a fact the average profit-per-vehicle gap between the Detroit Three and the Japanese Three in North America is $2,400. How is this possible? The Automotive Competitive Challenges: Going Beyond Lean study documents structural challenges and provides an in-depth analysis of key issues impacting the gap between the Detroit Three and New Domestics, including labor cost issues; capacity, product, process and design engineering; revenue per vehicle; yen exchange rate; and future investments.

The results and analysis provide a clear roadmap to address OEM issues, supply chain management and operational improvements.

This data is integral to the industry as it transitions. Knowledge of the key issues and their root causes improves the chances of a strong, sustainable North American auto industry.

This data is also vital to your company's future. Its contents affect every automotive and manufacturing company – OEMs to suppliers to those in between. As the automotive industry continues to evolve, it is important you possess knowledge that allows you to stay competitive. Downloading this study will not only equip you to meet your company's challenges head on, it will also analyze areas within your company that have never before been reviewed. We're giving you the tools to succeed so you can continue to make the adjustments necessary to stay competitive.

About the study author-Jim Harbour

Jim Harbour, founder of Harbour Consulting, produced the groundbreaking study, “The Harbour Report,” in the 1980s, taking the automotive industry by storm. The Harbour Report not only revolutionized the automotive industry, but also drove North American plants to focus on improving their operations to effectively compete against the Japanese.

Like “The Harbour Report,” Jim expects the Automotive Competitive Challenges: Going Beyond Lean study to provide insight that will further challenge the automotive and manufacturing industries.

“The major gaps the North American automotive manufacturers faced in the 1980s were primarily quality and productivity. Now we are emerging on a ‘New Frontier' – another defining moment for the industry. With this study, we are taking a closer look at what prevents the OEMs from closing the competitive gap, something that affects everyone from suppliers to OEMs to everyone in between.”