Well Made in America: Lessons from Harley-Davidson on Being the Best Book

In 1981, 13 Harley-Davidson managers purchased the ailing motorcycle company from its parent conglomerate, AMF. Saddled with $83 million in debt, they had to avoid bankruptcy, restore employee commitment, revolutionize manufacturing processes, and dramatically increase sales-by yesterday. Today business professors throughout the world are citing the Harley-Davidson "miracle" in their classrooms. What really happened? Here is the first in-depth look at how this group of pioneering owner-managers breathed new life into their company and managed to win. How they combined Japanese work methods with American know-how and innovation. How they triumphed over financial instability and foreign competition. And how they positioned their company for steady future growth. But readers will find more than an exciting turnaround story here. They will find an overall strategy for making their own organization the best. They will observe the kinds of changes that have to be made in product strategy, marketing, finance, human resources, and manufacturing to achieve striking gains in quality, productivity, market share, and profitability. Well Made in America is an exciting guide for business managers who want their companies to become vital global competitors.Read More