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.

Mike Brattain, account executive at Systems X, joined host Dean Phillips on the Destiny of Manufacturing podcast to discuss cybersecurity in the manufacturing space. Mike emphasized the critical need for businesses to adopt a proactive approach to cybersecurity rather than relying on outdated, reactive measures. He noted key industry challenges, including weak security infrastructure and a lack of compliance initiatives among many manufacturers. With 59% of manufacturers still using outdated security measures, he stressed that cybersecurity is no longer just an IT problem but a business imperative.

Mike and Dean discussed the role of compliance frameworks that not only help protect manufacturers, but their entire supply chains. Learn what cybersecurity risks are out there for your company and steps that you can take to help mitigate the risks.

About Mike Brattain

With more than two decades of expertise in business development, sales and team leadership, Mike Brattain is dedicated to helping business owners and IT managers navigate real-world business challenges with practical IT solutions. He collaborates closely with managed IT, cybersecurity and compliance teams at Systems X to deliver winning solutions for clients.

In this special edition episode, host Dean Phillips welcomes PMA Tennessee District Chair Perry Hytken and Education Chair Tom Kelly.

Dean, Perry and Tom discuss a variety of topics in this episode about the growth of the district over the years, partnerships that have been created and the impact the district has made on the local manufacturing community.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Reshoring Opportunities: Discover how the industry is preparing for manufacturing work transitioning back from Mexico, creating growth opportunities.
• Scholarships and Education: Gain insight into collaborative efforts with education partners, including Tennessee Tech, Middle Tennessee State University, and STEM programs like those for Boy Scouts of America, to support the next generation of manufacturers.
• Evolving Events: Hear how the district expanded its annual golf outing and suppliers events over the years, creating stronger ties between members and raising funds for scholarships and other initiatives.
• Leadership and Community Impact: Learn how the district overcame challenges, built robust industry connections and created a thriving manufacturing ecosystem.

Perry and Tom reflect on their journeys in manufacturing and how it is vital to give back to the industry and community to ensure future generations of manufacturers have the same opportunities as they did.