Earlier this year, Genuine Parts Company, a leading global distributor of automotive and industrial replacement parts, announced that its board of directors had appointed James F. Howe to the position of president, Motion, effective April 1.
As a company veteran of nearly three decades, Howe has taken on many different roles within Motion, the company that took the no. 2 slot on ID's annual Big 50 list.
ID caught up with Howe to learn more about his newest appointment, as well as what to expect from Motion in the coming months.
Industrial Distribution: You were named as Motion’s president less than a year ago. What’s high on the agenda for you?
Motion President James Howe.Motion
ID: Your most previous role was chief commercial and technology officer. How has Motion changed with technology over the years?
JH: Technological advances created a huge shift in the last 30 years for all sectors, including industrial. During this time, some companies have chosen to embrace it and become early adopters, while others have lagged. At Motion, we’re committed to being the former by continuously evaluating and adopting technology that supports our customers both now and in the future. For instance, with the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), we focus on accelerating our speed to market and utilizing data to enhance customer uptime. My previous role focused on the importance of seamlessly integrating digital tools within our operations, which improved customer interactions significantly. It also taught me the value of adaptability and listening to both customers and employees for innovative solutions. This spirit of technological innovation is vital for Motion’s future success.
ID: You mention fostering a culture of innovation. In light of the skills gap, how do you engage and develop talent, especially with the rapid pace of technological advancements?
JH: We actively invest in our employees by providing comprehensive training programs tailored to current and future industry needs. These programs include targeted workshops, online courses, and hands-on training sessions that focus on the latest technologies and methodologies. Additionally, we offer mentorship opportunities where experienced professionals guide newer team members, fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation. Our commitment to talent development ensures that our team remains at the forefront of industry innovation, making them more effective and fulfilled in their roles.
ID: Motion has made another electrical/automation company acquisition in 2024. What is on the horizon for the Motion Automation Intelligence (Motion Ai) business? Can you elaborate on your strategy for increasing customer value?
JH: Motion Automation Intelligence represents a natural evolution for us — we’re not just distributing automation products; we’re a full-fledged assembly, service and solutions provider. Our approach is two-pronged: growing organically by leveraging the best suppliers along with the incredible innovation and engineering talent within Motion Ai, and strategically acquiring companies that align with our vision and expand our capabilities.
The demand for automation solutions is exploding, driven by factors like labor shortages and the need for a faster speed-to-market supply chain. Our team is uniquely positioned to meet those demands across machine vision, robotics, motion control, mechatronic systems — you name it.
For example, advanced machine vision and the algorithms that power many of our customers’ operations are incredibly important to critical infrastructure activities like food safety inspection and medical device assembly. The precision and speed these technologies offer can dramatically increase customers’ production levels.
ID: What lessons have you learned from navigating supply chain issues and elevated interest rates during the last few years?
JH: The pandemic was truly a black swan event. We were fortunate that at Motion, we had the foresight to ramp up our inventory investments in late 2020 and 2021. That decision proved to be a critical component of our success, allowing us to keep our customers up and running during a challenging time. Since then, manufacturers have largely caught up with demand, but we’ve all had to adapt to a new set of hurdles — inflation and high interest rates. Our focus now is on inventory agility — closely monitoring trends and anticipating shifts in demand so we can respond quickly. The lesson is: No matter the circumstances, we strive to constantly challenge ourselves to be smarter, faster and better so that we always find a way to keep our customers’ businesses running smoothly.
