Horace Dodge

Never lose touch with the craft and quality standards that define your business. The founder should remain connected to the shop floor and production process.

Horace Dodge, despite becoming wealthy, spent most of his time in the factory managing production and designing improvements. His office was described as a museum of parts, and his presence on the shop floor commanded immediate respect and drove quality improvements. He never delegated away his connection to the craftwork.

“His office was literally a museum of parts, past and present, and perspective for dodge brothers cars. He was constantly scheming improved details, new processes, new methods, and always building new machinery.”

Develop strategic capabilities by learning from work experience at successful predecessors. Seek roles that expose you to best practices and advanced techniques.

During John's illness with tuberculosis, Horace worked part-time at Henry Leland's machine shop to support his brother. Leland had brought New England machine shop standards of precision to Detroit. This exposure to Leland's methods and standards significantly influenced Horace's approach to quality and precision at Dodge Brothers.

“Horace no doubt gained valuable experience working for Henry Leland, who had brought to Detroit the high standards for accuracy already attained in the machine shops of Leland's native New England.”