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- Faculty Publications (2)
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- All HBS Web (211)
- Faculty Publications (2)
Walter J. Kohler
Kohler is responsible for many plumbing innovations that are part of everyday life. He invented the one-piece, double shell and built-in bath. His plumbing innovations became standard elements in the burgeoning construction industry. View Details
Keywords: Fabricated Goods
Peter F. Hurst
In 1940, Hurst, an engineer by training, invented two new products that were critical to the growing aviation industry – detachable, reusable hose fittings and self-sealing couplings. As aviation took hold during World War II, these safety products became crucial, but... View Details
Keywords: Fabricated Goods
Stephen D. Hassenfeld
Hassenfeld built Hasbro Toys into the fastest-growing, best-managed and most profitable company in the toy industry. Hassenfeld increased profitability from 1979 to 1986 by 85% annually. Only two Fortune 500 companies have achieved such a high rate of growth in... View Details
Keywords: Fabricated Goods
Ohio C. Barber
Barber’s own match manufacturing company consolidated with three other firms in 1881 to form the Diamond Match Company, controlling about 85% of the trade in the industry. Diamond Match produced the first modern automatic match machine. In the 1890s, Barber developed... View Details
Keywords: Fabricated Goods
Herman G. Fisher
In 1938, Fisher introduced a new toy named “Snoopy Sniffer,” which was an instant hit with the public. By the end of the 1930s, Fisher-Price, the first toy company licensed to make Disney toys, was producing over 2 million action toys a year for annual sales of $1.6... View Details
Keywords: Fabricated Goods
George Eastman
Eastman invented film and the inexpensive camera, and in turn created the multi-billion dollar photography industry. Eastman acquired all the photographic paper producers in America and secured the motion picture film market for Eastman Kodak, eventually controlling 75... View Details
Keywords: Fabricated Goods
Alonzo G. Decker, Jr.
Recognizing the potential of the home market, Decker virtually invented the “do-it-yourself” business by developing cordless tools in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. He moved the family company from a 100% focus on business-to-business tools to one focused on the... View Details
Keywords: Fabricated Goods
Bert S. Cross
Cross spent over 40 years with 3M and was known as a “builder of businesses.” He successfully commercialized several new product lines including Scotchlite and Thermo-Fax copying machines. During his tenure, 3M expanded its international footprint, invested heavily in... View Details
Keywords: Fabricated Goods
Richard T. Crane, Jr.
With Crane at the helm, The Crane Company enjoyed the greatest expansion in its history. Crane grew the company into a firm with factories, branch houses, sales offices, and exhibition rooms in 200 cities throughout the world including a workforce of 20,000 employees. View Details
Keywords: Fabricated Goods
Charles L. Coughlin
For 35 years Coughlin served as CEO of Briggs and Stratton – a giant manufacturer of small gasoline engines. From 1950 to 1970, Coughlin generated a return on assets performance that ranked Briggs as one of the top 50 U.S. businesses. View Details
Keywords: Fabricated Goods
Joseph S. Wright
Wright led Zenith Radio Corporation during its heyday as the leading manufacturer of color televisions in the United States. Under Wright’s direction, Zenith pioneered the wireless remote controller and introduced advances in color television, phonographs, and hearing... View Details
Keywords: Fabricated Goods
John F. Welch, Jr.
Though he had the full support of GE’s board, Welch’s first few years as CEO consisted of extensive cost cutting plans, some of which involved controversial divestitures of GE subsidiaries. Having successfully streamlined the company, Welch had his employees focus on... View Details
Keywords: Fabricated Goods
John T. Underwood
Purchasing the rights to the only “visible” typewriter available at the time, Underwood led his company to extreme success. By 1915, he had created the “largest and most complete typewriter factory in the world,” and his company was producing some 500 machines a day,... View Details
Keywords: Fabricated Goods
Edward R. Stettinius
When Stettinius joined Diamond Match, it was the United States’ leading producer of matches, but it was a suffering entity. Within a few short years, however, Stettinius turned the company around and initiated an advertising campaign to boost popularity of the... View Details
Keywords: Fabricated Goods
Theodore E. Steinway
Like other Steinways before and after him, Theodore Steinway continued the family’s dynasty in the piano making business. He is, however, known especially for his creation and publication of the Steinway family history in the mid-1950s. View Details
Keywords: Fabricated Goods
Fred J. Borch
During his ten years as CEO, Borch invested heavily in three major areas – computers, nuclear power and commercial jet engines. His investments, especially in jet engines, paid off handsomely for General Electric. Through his efforts, Borch doubled the size of the... View Details
Keywords: Fabricated Goods
Henry E. Singleton
A trained electrical engineer, Singleton’s first venture at Teledyne was to create semiconductors, a product that his previous employer, Litton Industries refused to produce, even at Singleton’s behest. After only a few years in operation, Singleton began acquiring... View Details
Keywords: Fabricated Goods
Harold Boeschenstein
Recognizing the commercial and scientific opportunities for fiberglass in the mid-1930’s, Boeschenstein convinced Owens-Illinois to create a new company. With the launch of Owens-Corning Fiberglass, Boeschenstein built a new industry from scratch – tirelessly promoting... View Details
Keywords: Fabricated Goods
Cedric H. Rieman
Rieman posted ten consecutive years of top level financial performance as head of Gardner-Denver. Under his leadership, Gardner-Denver expanded its base of industrial machinery customers and doubled both revenues and earnings. While it took the company 58 years to... View Details
Keywords: Fabricated Goods
John D. Biggers
Biggers is recognized for strong labor-management relations. He was a key figure in bringing the Toledo Labor Peace Plan to nation-wide attention. In 1947, Biggers was head of one of the world’s largest manufacturers of flat glass with sales of $100 million and... View Details
Keywords: Fabricated Goods