Pros

Plenty of opportunity, good pay, worldwide operation provides insight into large corporations and how they function. Technology mixed with core manufacturing

Cons

Large! makes it hard to stand out. A lot of politics as you would expect for an organization of that size

Advice to Senior Management

Wouldn't presume to offer advice to someone who is willing to take on such a large responsibility for others. Good luck!

Pros

The company was in its first year with Caterpillar so there were a lot of evolving changes to get this company up to speed. The people were great to work with and there was a genuine commitment from most employees to produce a great product. Middle management were the as good as the best I have worked with in the past.

Cons

I found senior management to be mostly a competent group and I enjoyed working with them, but as is the case with a few places I have been to, middle management and below really had a tough time swallowing what top management was serving up. Sometimes the complaints seemed valid to me and at other times it is just the way it is everywhere. I think they needed a flatter organizational chart to create a better "team environment".

Advice to Senior Management

Rule by decree is a dead standard and will not stand the test of time. As I said, this division was in transition and change will come.

Pros

1. In the past they offered stability due to size and market position. However recent market conditions have resulted in substantial reductions of staff.
2. Potential for international experience
3. Industry Leader

Cons

1. Not a humble organization, tend to be arrogant, dealers referred to this as "Catitude"
2. Very ingrown organization, resulting in little acceptance for innovative ideas.
3. They do not know how to manage mid-career hires. As a rule they follow a very traditional development path. I realize this sounds simply "disgruntled", but I know of multiple employees who experienced this. Most of use have left to better opportunities.
4. During the recent down sizing, communication was terrible. It was late in coming, obtuse and too often misinformed. I know of several employees who were advised not take the buyout package because they were assured positions and were laid off 30 days after the deadline for the offer expired.

Advice to Senior Management

You need to walk the talk!
The published values in action, Common values, etc. Are not being cascade through the organization. As an example, Feedback we received from the employee surveys praised a high engagement score (number of surveys completed). I saw very little activity on the qualitative attributes of the survey (what needs fixed). Is the mob carrying flowers or pitch forks?

The effective project managers and the articulate seem to be fed into the leadership roles. I experienced many challenges due poor leadership at the supervisory and mid management levels. As a former manger and SME with cross industry experience I was quite surprised and frustrated by implementation based on agendas verse strategy.

Last. as a matter of record for the integrity of the organization, your management was very manipulative with me and several co-workers during the recent down sizing. When seeking counsel about the buy out we were advised against it and soon after laid off. Remember, we have families! The HR folks offered no support when informed.

It is a very difficult time to be in leadership, but there is never a time to compromise your integrity!

Pros

Excellent product range. One of the best in overall technological advancement. Friendly management. Excellent work environment. Good perks in good times.

Cons

Glass ceilings for minorities and i would say women as well. Very centralized management. This creates lack of vision in my opinion.

Advice to Senior Management

To retain good employees and global edge a lot of things need to be done. example removing glass ceilings and more transparency.

Pros

Large successful company - great heritage. A market leader in civil and mining equipment and manufacture of heavy duty engines. Global brand.

Cons

Overly beuracratic with senior management been there forever. They need to spend more on R&D. They have good opportunities for transferring within the company to the different sites.

Advice to Senior Management

Listen more to all employees rather than those who have been there the longest. Caterpillar is one of the most recognised brands in the world and overall i think they are doing a good job.

Pros

Work life balance, global opportunities.

Cons

Slow to make meaningful change.

Advice to Senior Management

As stated in the headline, CAT is suffering from a talent acquisition & retention negative feedback loop that is not being addressed.

Pros

smart people
good comp
world presence
good resume builder

Cons

oldie org
located in smaller cities

Advice to Senior Management

change the culture to one that values new ideas

Pros

strong technical analyses in certain areas. good repository of knowledge. decent pay. many people have worked for 30 -35 yrs internally.

Cons

many sections resemble good old boys club with people using talking skills and street smarts to cover up lack of technical knowledge and advance their careers. organization seems top heavy with distinction btw upper management and others. (not many companies use such words). efforts are not rewarded with better opportunities and there is a strong bias in favor of age (older you are better you must be) bad situation for younger employees who want to prove themselves. ideal company for people who are just looking forward to retirement.

Advice to Senior Management

reward performance with opportunities and treat everyone fairly

Pros

Good pay, reasonable hours, great opportunities for advancement, very good middle management, impressive manufacturing capability, strong supply and customer base, and overall a good place to work.

Cons

In a company as large as Caterpillar it is often easy to get lost in the shuffle and not see how what you are doing is affecting the bottom line of the company.

Advice to Senior Management

You run the company with sound financial practice, but need to realize that CAT sells technically advanced machinery, not mutual funds. More than just shoving money at product development there needs to be good judgment and accountability to see that technically sound advancements are being made that truly enable the production of better machinery for the customer.

Pros

Pay rate, sorry but I see no other reasons especially due to the corporate philosophy of your not a good employee if you do not aspire to be in management. Those that want the management job more than likely shouldn't have it and many of those who don't want it should have it.

Cons

Many Cat employees and AmerIcan citizens were layed off (and still being) while Visa people were kept. Bad enough they have outsourced most entry level jobs, but like so many other places they are also bringing them here. For the most part because of the pay rates the Visa people get.
I've seen Masters at $15 and less / hr. Most of them start as contractor temps, spend a number of years then get hired.
I've known of Managers stating (about temps) that he wouldn't hire someone (that had 10+ yrs) because they were hired to be fired. How can a temp job last 10 yrs (and still be there)?

Advice to Senior Management

Everyone who does work for Cat (wether or not an employee) needs to be acknowledged for the job they do. Being a temp doesn't make you any less an employee, especially if they do an excellent (acknowledged by their peers) job.