Lifecycle Specialist
Caterpillar

Career Area:
Supply Chain and Logistics
Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do - but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here - we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

Our Product Support and Logistics Division (PSLD) is one of the most innovative divisions within Caterpillar. In PSLD, as within all of Caterpillar, our priority is our customers and helping them build a better world. We touch nearly every element of the services value stream from procurement to design and manufacturing to distribution. PSLD is responsible for Aftermarket Parts DistributionofCat Parts, Integrated Logistics, segment Procurementand thedesign andmanufactureof Wear Components (Undercarriage and GET) and Maintenance Components (Seals, Tubes & Hardware, Hose & Couplings, Fluids and Filters).

As a Lifecycle Specialist you will enable Aftermarket growth by supporting processes associated with reduction in parts proliferation and improved aftermarket parts growth techniques. This individual will collaborate with all four verticals (Construction Industries Segment, Energy & Transportation Segment, Resources Industries Segment, and Services, Distribution & Digital Segment) engineering and aftermarket teams to ensure parts intended for the aftermarket are released and maintained in engineering and parts distribution systems appropriately to achieve enterprise goals. This would require the consistent implementation of standardized processes at New Product Introduction (NPI), Caterpillar Part Inquiry (CPI) and subsequent engineering changes of the part to maximize OPACC-C and customer satisfaction throughout its lifecycle. The Specialist will communicate and troubleshoot issues with engineers to ensure Dealers and Customers are provided with aftermarket parts efficiently and profitably.

Additional Information:

• Location: Morton, IL (United States)
• Required Travel: 10% (Domestic)
• Relocation Assistance Offered: None.
• Our team embraces flexibility through a hybrid work model. In addition to working onsite at either our Morton, IL facility, our hybrid work model allows employees the flexibility to work from home based on business need.

What You Will Do:

• As a Lifecycle Specialist, the individual will lead, and support projects associated with the optimization of service parts portfolio by drawing on their:
  • Expertise with engineering bills of material and aftermarket part service strategies.
  • Experience in NPI and CPI processes.
  • Understanding of service parts authorization and disposition processes including inventory control.
  • Ability to analyze service parts network and ensure the parts portfolio is optimized to achieve Distribution Center efficiencies and physical footprint.
  • Knowledge of aftermarket growth strategies associated with service parts and ability to advise engineering on choices available to ensure optimal aftermarket performance on their parts.
  • Knowledge of Supply Chain/Procurement practices align with lifecycle of part.
  • Responsible for ownership support of corporate processes, engineering training, and engineering standards associated with aftermarket parts processes.
  • Experience with Caterpillar Operating and Execution (O&E) model and business acumen to identify opportunities to improve OPACC pools.
• Other duties as assigned by Caterpillar management from time-to-time.

What You Have (Basic Requirements):

• Business Process Improvement: Knowledge of business process improvement best practices and ability to use methods for identifying, evaluating, introducing and implementing more efficient approaches to performing business related activities.
  • Analyzes business processes, identifies alternative solutions to outdated processes and assesses their feasibility.
  • Evaluates financial, cultural, technological and other factors that need to be addressed.
  • Recommends new approaches that seek the use of advanced technology.
  • Establishes requirements for large changes in the overall mission, roles, responsibilities and processes necessary to make business improvements.
  • Participates in defining organizational strategic goals and purposes; defines how to gather and keep customers.
  • Works to overcome BPI resistance from managers, the labor force and other groups.
• Core Application Systems: Knowledge of major production application systems used for delivery of services to internal and external clients; ability to leverage major production application systems in diverse situations.
  • Helps create contingency plans to mitigate impact of disruption on core applications.
  • Identifies key players, criticalities, roles, and responsibilities.
  • Investigates application-related issues with both business and IT professionals.
  • Recommends enhancements for a major application system or related subsystems.
  • Works with core application systems for a major business unit or function.
• Effective Measurement: Knowledge of effective measurement techniques and ability to measure the quality and quantity of work effort for the purpose of improvement.
  • Monitors planned improvement efforts in quality and productivity.
  • Uses recognized industry benchmarks.
  • Evaluates improvement efforts in quality and productivity.
  • Uses measurements to drive improvement in a number of different ways.
  • Supervises others in their use of data collection, analysis, and reporting tools.
  • Defines, captures and monitors metrics for multiple functions.
• Service Excellence: Knowledge of customer service concepts and techniques; ability to meet or exceed customer needs and expectations and provide excellent service in a direct or indirect manner.
  • Provides a quality of service that customers describe as excellent.
  • Resolves common customer problems.
  • Responds to unexpected customer requests with a sense of urgency and positive action.
  • Provides direct service to internal or external customers.
  • Documents customer complaints in a timely manner.
• Standard Operating Procedures: Knowledge of established standard operating procedures (SOP); ability to design, implement and evaluate standard operating procedures affecting daily and strategic business operations in order to increase operational efficiency.
  • Designs a standard operating procedure, detailing steps and activities, within a department; develops procedures, processes, and controls to implement and execute policy requirements.
  • Optimizes complex SOPs according to changes in organizational procedures.
  • Monitors the relationship between SOPs and performance improvement (e.g. quality improvement).
  • Evaluates the benefits and drawbacks of industry-specific SOPs.
  • Integrates best practices into the design, implementation and evaluation of organizational SOPs.
  • Evaluates the causes behind deviations from and modifications to existing SOPs.
• Problem Solving: Knowledge of approaches, tools, techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational or process problems; ability to apply knowledge of problem solving appropriately to diverse situations.
  • Ensures capture of lessons to be learned from a problem-solving effort.
  • Organizes potential problem solvers and leads problem resolution efforts.
  • Uses varying problem-solving approaches and techniques as appropriate.
  • Contributes to standard practices for problem-solving approaches, tools, and processes.
  • Analyzes and synthesizes information and devises alternative resolution strategies.
  • Develops successful resolutions to critical or wide-impact problems.

What Will Set You Apart (Preferred Qualifications):

• Bachelor's degree in a technical field.
• Previous project leadership experience using analytical tools.
• Knowledge of print reading and engineering systems (ex., SPM, EWM, Antares) and service strategies.
• Previous knowledge of engineering processes (ex., NPI, CPI).
• Understanding of Caterpillar's Prime Product and Components.
• Understanding of the Change Management processes.

What You Will Get:

Through it all, we are one team - creating and delivering world-class components and solutions superior to the competition. Learn more about the Caterpillar Experience . The total rewards package, beyond based salary includes:

• Annual Incentive Bonus Plan*
• Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage starting Day 1
• Paid Time Off Plan (Vacation, Holiday, Volunteer, etc.)
• 401(k) Savings Plan including Company match.
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Short and long-term disability coverage
• Life Insurance
• Parental Leave
• Employee Assistance Programs
• Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts
• Career Development

*Subject to annual eligibility an incentive plan guideline

About Caterpillar:

Caterpillar Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For nearly 100 years, we've been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed.

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Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position. This employer is not currently hiring foreign national applicants that require or will require sponsorship tied to a specific employer, such as, H, L, TN, F, J, E, O. As a global company, Caterpillar offers many job opportunities outside of the U.S which can be found through our employment website at www.caterpillar.com/careers.
Posting Dates:
November 8, 2024 - November 21, 2024
Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.

EEO/AA Employer. All qualified individuals - Including minorities, females, veterans and individuals with disabilities - are encouraged to apply.

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