John Deere – “Nothing to extreme...”

Pros

Pretty vanilla place to work. The high points aren't too high, but the low points aren't show stoppers. Salary is very good for the area. Benefits are still pretty good, but not as legendary as they once were. The primary health plan is an HSA, which is great if you are a younger worker. Work/life balance is pretty good as well, so long as the ag market isn't screaming through the clouds as it was in 2007-2008. More normal volumes have led to better balance. Supply management function is awfully sophisticated for the industry.

Cons

I have been with this location for 3 years and seen 3 medium-sized and 1 major reorganization. Managers are constantly tinkering with the org chart for little perceived benefit. JD continues to hire ex-automotive types directly into supervisory roles. Because, clearly, we should be led by people from a failed industry rather than promoting from within. There is a strong flavor of cronyism, and picking the right "mentor" seems the fastest route to the top. The only way to get hired out of college seems to be through one of the rotational programs. That has some benefits, but it also means that you could end up in Ottumwa, IA or Coffeyville, KS for 18 months (not a pleasant prospect).

Advice to Senior Management

You build tractors, not cars. Different industries mean different strategies. The automotive model is a great fit in some aspects (lean manufacturing, rapid new product development) , but downright impossible in others (we can't always dictate conditions to our supply base because we aren't Toyota or GM).