Digging In at Cat

As I begin my tasks at Caterpillar, I am excited about all that I have learned and what I will continue to learn. Although this week has been short, it has been very productive as well. Last week, I meet my team’s black belt and he informed me of a 6 Sigma project that I could potentially become involved in that would allow me to obtain my green belt. Few interns have the opportunity to work on a project allowing them to get their green belt, which is one of my goals for the summer, so I jumped at the opportunity. My supervisor was also excited about this opportunity and lucky I inquired about joining the project just in time to attend the kick off meeting. The 6 Sigma project I am working on deals with client efficiency improvement within the advertising group of GCMS. Our 18 member team of diverse Caterpillar employees will work to make interactions between Caterpillar employees and Caterpillar equipment dealers more time efficient.

Additionally, this summer I am responsible for updating the Trade Press web site. Trade Press is where industrial publications editors and interested representatives can turn to receive press releases, new product information, images and application stories about Caterpillar. To access the Trade Press web site please visit: http://www.catnewsinfo.cat.com/cda/layout?m=49775&x=7. Specifically, on the site click the “Images” tab, and then select “Accept these terms & take me to the Gallery,” then choose any of the listed Caterpillar products to view the image updates I am implementing. These image updates are in response to current Trade Dress updates. The most current update within Caterpillar is the introduction of the red power stripe. This diagonal strip is now displayed on all Caterpillar equipment. In order to maintain a common look and feel for Caterpillar, all images utilized must portray the updated power stripe. This project involved downloading and saving thumbnail, high resolution and low resolution photos. Essentially, these photos will be used to facilitate projects completed by Caterpillar employees and dealers.

Continuing to advance my progress at Caterpillar is another significant goal I accomplished this week. Ensuring my progress is essential, thus I was privileged to discuss my SMART Goals with my supervisor. Ironically, my SMART Goals aligned almost exactly with the goals my team had prepared for me. As an intern, I look forward to completing the following:

SMART Goal #1: Achieve business plan by meeting or exceeding labor-hour targets. Difficulty---Normal Strategic Alignment: CSF---Tough

Planned Results:

a) Reach or exceed the department's labor-hour target of 210 for internship period.

Actions Taken:

a) Karlie's focus on labor hours led to over (xxx) hours being posted during her review period. A significant reason for Karlie (meeting/exceeding) her labor hour target was her willingness to go above and beyond . . . A prime example was her volunteering to . . . Another example was Karlie's making time to write occasional copy for her coworkers' projects, such as the Trade Press website. Overall Assessment:

SMART Goal #2: Improve employee engagement and culture by completing MPSD-required training and personal development goals, based on career development plans. Difficulty---Normal Strategic Alignment: CSF---People

Planned Results:

a) Successfully complete 100% of required learning in CLMS.

b) Fully participate in all assigned intern programs, tours, sessions and activities.

c) Complete training on Trade Press web site and acquire skills including, but not limited to image support.

Actions Taken: Karlie completed the Strengths Finder assessment, to evaluate her strengths and weaknesses, while gaining insight to how she fits into the MPSD team.

Overall Assessment:

SMART Goal #3: Provide strategic and tactical support for the enterprise, leveraging communications expertise, including actively supporting Advertising Job Directors and Trade Press Editors. Difficulty - Challenging

Strategic Alignment: CSF---Quality

Planned Results:

a) Participate in synergy meetings between MPSD and PSD Advertising groups, as time/ schedule allows.

b) Work with Trade Press Editors to:

- Update image library in the Trade Press website using images with new trade dress

- Download editorial content to the Trade Press website

- Coordinate annual trade press editor’s survey.

- Assist in the assembly of press kits.

Actions Taken:

Overall Assessment:

SMART Goal #4: Ensure assigned marketing processes contribute to Caterpillar’s initiative to become world-class marketing organization and are recognized as best value for the enterprise—level of difficulty: Difficult

Strategic alignment: CSF Quality

Planned results:

a. Participate as Green Belt on 6 Sigma projects and contribute additional project ideas (if possible)

b. Fully support Advertising Job Directors on projects and with StarLink initiatives.

Actions taken:

Assessment:

Throughout my internship experience and during my monthly reviews, I will be able to analyze, along with my supervisor my progress on these goals and how I can better strive to achieve them.

It is amazing how much a person can learn in two weeks and I am definitely doing that. On Wednesday, I was quickly trained on how to update the images for Trade Press and on Thursday I was selecting and updating images that will be utilized globally. What an experience!