Production Expert Jim Harbour Dies

James Harbour, whose annual analysis of factory efficiency became the bible of the international auto industry, died on Saturday at age 86.

Harbour worked for Chrysler and Ford nearly 30 years before launching his own consulting firm in 1980 to help manufacturers become more competitive. He issued the first annual Harbour Report, a plant-by-plant analysis of lean manufacturing performance, a year later.

Crusty and blunt, Harbour pushed for the next 30 years to make the American auto industry more globally competitive.

He retired as head of Harbour and Associates in 1999, turning over the company to daughter Laurie and son Ron. The company was sold to consultants Oliver Wyman in 2008 and continues to produce the Harbour Report under the direction of Ron Harbour.

Family visitation will be today and Tuesday 3 p.m.-8 p.m. at A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Home in Troy, Mich.