--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson…" description: "\"Motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson is a prime example of an American company that uses employment conditions to boost productivity. Current CEO Ja..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33c/james-o-toole-26001_business_motorcycle-manufacturer-harley-davidson_2802123.jpg" --- # Motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson is a prime example… ![“Motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson is a prime example of an American company that uses employment conditions to boost productivity. Current CEO James Ziemer - who started with the company while in high school has negotiated imaginative contracts with the unions representing Harley's workers…” quote by James O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33c/james-o-toole-26001_business_motorcycle-manufacturer-harley-davidson_2802123.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33c/james-o-toole-26001_business_motorcycle-manufacturer-harley-davidson_2802123.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33c/james-o-toole-26001_business_motorcycle-manufacturer-harley-davidson_2802123.jpg) > “Motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson is a prime example of an American company that uses employment conditions to boost productivity. Current CEO James Ziemer - who started with the company while in high school has negotiated imaginative contracts with the unions representing Harley's workers, agreeing to keep production in the U.S. in exchange for constantly reducing total labor costs through automating tasks and changing work rules. Because Harley regularly reassigns workers whose tasks have been automated to other parts of the company.” [James O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-toole/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Harley‑Davidson keeps U.S. production by using flexible union contracts and automation, reassigning workers to new roles to cut labor costs while maintaining jobs. **In simple terms:** Company uses contracts and automation to keep jobs in the U.S. Key Takeaway Leverage flexible contracts and upskilling to sustain domestic production. Themes labor strategy automation union relations domestic manufacturing cost control Mood pragmatic determined Type business strategy When to use this quote - manufacturing plant - union negotiations - skill training programs - cost‑reduction initiatives Key Concepts strategic labor management industrial economics human capital development Questions to Reflect On - How can companies balance cost cuts with employee welfare? - What training is needed for workers shifted to new roles? A Different Perspective Automation may reduce job quality or cause worker displacement if not paired with adequate retraining. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Ceo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ceo/) [Company Uses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company-uses-2294187/) [Harley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harley/) [Harley Workers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harley-workers-3456983/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Imaginative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imaginative/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Manufacturer Harley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manufacturer-harley-3456982/) [Motorcycle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motorcycle/) [Motorcycle Manufacturer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motorcycle-manufacturer-3456981/) [Productivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productivity/) [Representing Harley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/representing-harley-3456984/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) ## Related quotes > [I'm not going to work with a company that uses my artwork, which is precious to me, and not allow me to do certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kesh/i-m-not-going-to-work-with-a-company-that-uses-my-artwork-which-is/) [Kesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kesh/) > [Do I race motorcycles? 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