Bath engineer offers strategy for business success in two books
by Laura Bednar
Operating a successful business takes more than an idea and hard work. After 39 years as an engineer with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Bath resident Norbert Majerus authored two books about implementing innovation, efficiency and respect for employees into a company’s strategy.
Majerus began his career at Goodyear’s Global Innovation Center in Luxembourg, where he was born and raised, before transferring to the innovation center in Akron. He performed different roles at the company, including working with the research and development team to implement a lean product development process at three of Goodyear’s innovation centers.
“In the 1990s and early 2000s, lean manufacturing was popular, but the increase in efficiency had a negative effect on quality and innovation,” said Majerus.
His first book “Lean-Driven Innovation,” was published in 2016 and outlines how he and the R&D team slashed the company’s product development cycle times by 70% and brought on-time delivery close to 100% through a new business approach.
Majerus is a regular keynote speaker at business conferences, and after one of his presentations, a publisher in the crowd suggested he write a book about the methods he implemented. He initially laughed at the idea, but after breaking his leg skiing, Majerus wrote the book while he healed.
The Shingo Institute, part of the Jon Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University, honored the book with the Shingo Research Award, which recognizes writing that has a significant impact and advances the body of knowledge regarding operational excellence, according to shingo.org.
Majerus took a different approach to disseminating information on best business practices when he wrote a second book, using fictional characters to develop a story that highlighted the importance of the human aspect when transforming a company.
“People don’t like to change or be told what to do,” said Majerus. “If you educate people and work with them, relying on concepts like respect and humble leadership, it is much easier to apply the ideas.”
His business novel, “Winning Innovation,” was published earlier this year. It tells the story of an Italian bicycle company in need of innovation to improve profits and market value. The cast of characters includes an owner longing for retirement who learns to care for his employees, and a young innovator struggling to bring a product idea to fruition, who falls in love.
Majerus said he described the lean process but also the change in people and company culture. “I had the opportunity to describe the innovation process from beginning to end,” he said.
Majerus enlisted the help of professional writer George Taninecz to learn to interweave character stories that come together at the end.
Writing about cycling came easily for Majerus, as he is an avid bicyclist. He has lived in Bath for 35 years and enjoys riding his bike through the Cuyahoga Valley three of four times a week.
His wife is a physical therapist. The couple raised two sons. Both have followed in Majerus’ footsteps as engineers. One is an engineering professor at Case Western Reserve University and the other is a product developer at Lincoln Electric. Majerus holds 60 patents and trade secrets in the United States.
The lessons from his books can be applied to any industry, he said, adding that the director of Akron Children’s Hospital wrote an endorsement of the book. “The whole process makes companies faster and more agile to adapt to the market,” Majerus said.
Majerus retired from Goodyear in 2017, but he still speaks at business conferences, though these days they are mostly virtual. He also operates his own consulting company. “I like to share thoughts and learn more,” he said.
Both books are available on Amazon, and those interested in contacting Majerus can email norbert.majerus@gmail.com. ∞
Photo: Longtime Bath resident Norbert Majerus used his personal cycling experience in his business novel. Photo submitted.