20 Years of Family-Driven Innovation

“I hear a part of my dad in me that says, ‘keep going’ and once I got there, it’s like, ‘ok, what’s next?’” says Walter LaPlante. Determination isn’t the only thing that runs in the family; innovation does, too! Walter’s dad Lou LaPlante earned him the Henry Ford Technology Award back in 2003. His son, Walter, was awestruck seeing his dad’s work featured on the Discovery Channel. This inspired Walter to become a mechanical engineer himself, and his own personal challenges only made him more determined.
Neither Lou nor Walter would have guessed they’d both revolutionize Ford’s engineering. In 2021, Walter won the same award as his dad. He helped build a system that spots manufacturing defects in real time using iPhones to find and fix problems on the line before they ever reach the market. He’s driven customer satisfaction up and warranty claims down, and improved quality and cost.
Innovation is about so much more than awards for the LaPlante family. It’s about improving the lives of employees and customers and inspiring others, including Walter’s kids. Grandpa Lou says his granddaughter is “brilliant” so stay tuned - the LaPlantes may be adding another trophy to their case.
Would you like to work with innovators like the LaPlantes? Bring your talents to the team at spr.ly/60565a14i. #WeAreFord