CPUs oss Sena es News and Views APRIL-MAY 1960 EV Sole ead The Silent Revolution race 17New Workforce Produces New Wheel Traxcavator "This isthe story of what happens in a plant when Engineering saye “Co” fon the production of a brand-new product "The product is the No. 944 wheel “Trancavatr, fst ofa nev line of wheel loaders produced in the Company's new ‘Aurora, Il, plant ‘Within s company, production methe cds from plant to plant ifr very lite Tne new plant, a major difernce is new people. AY Aurora more than half the 3400 employees have. been hired ZERO HOUR: Sea BACK FROM intensive Sed tet the smachine (above) get a Binal ings tion in the Aurora laboratories. Field tests determine the Gal design of the IachineInwpecting the model ae George Rou, mechanic; Chari Moc, foreman; Bob Ulhiup, ab mopervier within the past year. New people, of course, need intensive training in Com- ‘pany operating techniques to maintain ‘wadisional Company standards, ‘Their “veachen” are a core of veteran em- ployees on the staff who share their Imowledge, experience, and enthusiasm with the new workforce. ‘Aurora's story shows more than the development of engincering plans into ‘a Gnal product. Tn a brief time, Aurora plant produced not only a brand-new product but is developing a new team fof quality-minded employees in both offices and factory “The job our veteran employees did all along the line was outstanding,” the plant manager, A. N. Whitlock’ said, ‘it’s that extra measure of dedicatior to high quality standards, personal terest in giving the customer the best, and pride in individual jobs that cone tributed to Aurora plant's ability to achieve a tough initial assignment succesfully” Here are some of the people whe pat the No. 94¢ into stel: FINAL DRAWINGS (left) to incorporate recommended improvements get last-minute fridque of Enginscring Draftenan Den Strohachein (white shire), and Fred. Par, Roger Bacon, and George Schubert ll fol: lowed the design changes of the No, 964 “GO AHEAD” advire Chit Engineer Louis rank (seated, let) and aides Roy Buck and ‘Karl Mogk after they approve final plans for the No, O44, The newt step: Production.FIRST STAGE: Planning THROUGHOUT DESIGN and production of new product, Accounting analyes the cost of every indix wing makes the first major move toward vidual piccepart at a guide to engineers and. produes production, Planning people determine and requisition machines and tools needed tion mien to produce a product which will make profit to produce new product and also establish their location in faetory area, Layout for the Company. Actounting Clerk Sharon Martin Planners Herron Cannon snd Charles Holmberg study new No, 944 asembly ine. checks come Ggures af parts Tor Coxt Analyst Joc Babos. FROM ENGINEERING designs, Pl PURGHASING must buy eatala pars and production lise lies from outside ruppliers Production of the ‘ORDERING ALL material needed for production of the new machine ia the job No. 944 required purchase of more than 3,300 new of Inventory Control. ‘The No. $44 required more than 1,000 new piecepary all items, from pars to production machines, Rudy abe, coded with other parts used at Aurora inthis master fle checked by John Graf, asistant buyer, decries No, 944 whel cating to Rudy stock record clerk, Gis in background keep upto-minute report of pars supply. Pacionl, whose firm will produce fe for Caterpillar. continued 3AURORA continued MOST IMPORTANT to production sucec i For scores of new jobs ereted by the No. 944, many men had to be hired and trained. As part of their taining, Avrora reruite ate tended special on-ahif clases in safety, quality, blue print reading sod basie math, taught by ineractors like Frank Beckley, Safety COVER MAN Maurice Johnson tpi. jb opportunities within the plant a8 prot dlction forces increased, ‘Starting aa sweeper in late 1986, Maurice aoe elds jb as lathe operator. At 21, he looks for- ‘ward to longtioe carer with Caterpillag, 4 ined manpower SECOND STAGE: Trained Manpower INTENSIVE ON-THE-JOB training is given ew exployees by ‘illed Company wadermen like Bentley Beeho, who eame in Sor ‘three hours before or after their regular work tif Bentley gives new employee Jery Jones instruction on an external grinder, Two ‘crews of siled employee inrructors helped assure quality production, The No. 944: A Product of Many People Between the “idea” and the final product hundreds of Caterpillar people were involved in producing the No. 944 ‘At Aurora, every department played a role. Beyond Aurora, Caterpillar peo- ple in Peoria (engines), Joliet (hydrau- lics) and Milwaukee’ (shovels) also figured prominently in the final prod uct. Outside suppliers also furnished many other pats The dimension of the need for he wheel Traxcavator went to Engineer ing in 1953 after Sales Development field surveys proved that such a ma- chine offered good sales prospects for the Company. Since competition was already well entrenched in the feld, Sales suggested machine specifications and features which, according to the surveys, customers would like. One was to’ locate the lift arms and hy- Araulic eylinder ahead of the operator's compartment ... for the greatest safety of the operator. This is an exclusive feature of the new No. 944, Between 1953 and, 1958, Engineering people designed working models, scud- fed them, and redesigned them. Not until 1958 was the design model judged ready for field teats. Models built from these designs underwent 14,000 hours of rigorons testing on actual field jobs and at Company Proving Grounds, “Meanwhile, space for production of the new product was provided at Aurora, When esting was completed, field proved recommendations wore included in Engineering's final drawings and material specifications. Then the pro- duction forces shown in this article took over to produce the machine.THIRD STAGE: Production FINAL MACHINE TOOLS arive by deailine, are set by Plant PRODUGTION BEGINS, as employees lke Kennard Crabbe, bor- Engineering men like Tem Nance, ceter, in location indicated by ing machine operator, begia producing axle howe ngs forthe No. S44 Ghirle Cock, Planning, and Jolin Milner, alterations, (Other parts fed into plant from Purchasing supplies, other plant, NEW PRODUCTION MACHINE on the No. 944 frame line ie QUALITY ON the braud-uew line hss the same high quality stand ‘yplied by this milling machine. The operator is Glen Davidson. All ards found everywhere in. Caterpillar producti, Inspectors, ike parts produced in Aurora plat are headed toward new ansmbly line, Wayne Schlappi asure same high quality for the new machine. DESTINATION: Customers Everywhere READY FOR exitomers after year of plang land developmect, the No. 984 wheel Traxcae ‘ator diver off the assembly Hine to enter highly competiive and challenging marlet, Wide customer accepeance and pralte for the machine is satfying ews to the hundreds of employees whove work and talents produced i.