Caterpillar Inc. on October 16 announced a realignment of manufacturing divisions, resulting in a number of officer changes including a retirement and the election of a new vice president.
Wheel Loaders & Excavators Division vice president Jerry Palmer will retire at year end, following a distinguished 43-year career at Caterpillar. Palmer, 61, was appointed a vice president in 1992.
Concurrent with this retirement, Caterpillar will further align core manufacturing operations and focus its product design expertise on key industry segments. To achieve these goals, three new divisions will be created: the U.S. Operations Division, the Heavy Construction and Mining Division, and the Infrastructure Development Division. The new divisions will result from restructuring what is currently known as Wheel Loaders & Excavators Division, Track-Type Tractors Division, and Mining & Construction Equipment Division.
"Our goal is to simplify and align common manufacturing and product development processes, replicate best practices and further leverage technology across product platforms – all with an eye toward improving quality levels and better serving our customers," said Caterpillar chairman and chief executive officer Jim Owens.
To accomplish this, Bob Williams, currently vice president of Track-Type Tractors Division, will lead Caterpillar's U.S. Operations Division with responsibility for all manufacturing operations in
Rod Bussell, currently vice president of Mining & Construction Equipment Division, will lead the Heavy Construction and Mining Division comprised of four key product organizations focused on these key industry segments. He will have responsibility for product management and development and related functions for medium and large track-type tractors, mining trucks, quarry and aggregate trucks, large wheel loaders and wheel tractor scrapers.
Williams and Bussell will report to group president Gerry Shaheen.
The company also announced formation of the Infrastructure Development Division, to be headed by newly elected vice president Gary Stampanato. He is currently general manager of the
"These changes will maximize the company's manufacturing synergies and support our vision for unmatched quality, velocity and safety," said Owens. "At the same time, they allow us to increase the focus and alignment of Caterpillar's core expertise in manufacturing, product design and development to better serve customer needs in some of our most important industry segments."
