Production Manager – Lower Power Train

Caterpillar; Decatur (IL); On-site; USD 98,000 - 146,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

401(k) savings plan

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Career Development

Incentive bonus

Disability benefits

Life Insurance

Parental leave

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Caterpillar is seeking a 1st shift Production Manager in Decatur, Illinois, to oversee a complex production line. You will drive safety, quality, and on‑time manufacturing while developing teams and reinforcing continuous improvement culture.

You will lead daily execution, prepare schedules, resolve production issues, and ensure adherence to operating procedures and standards. This role requires strong communication and hands-on leadership in an automated environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.
• Ability to identify engineering and operational challenges, evaluate alternatives, analyze risks, and implement effective solutions.
• Experience collecting and analyzing operational data to drive performance improvements.
• Proven coaching and workforce development experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate day‑to‑day execution for a complex production line, aligning staffing, materials flow, and priorities to meet safety, quality, and delivery commitments.
• Create and maintain production reports and records (process performance, tooling issues, inventory) and provide actionable recommendations to improve safety, productivity, and quality.
• Prepare, maintain, and improve standard operating documentation, ensuring processes and products meet defined safety and quality standards.
• Supervise and direct production teams: assign work, coordinate across teams, monitor performance, remove barriers, and ensure a safe work environment.
• Train and onboard new team members; manage scheduling and resolve work conflicts to maintain stable, efficient shift execution.
• Troubleshoot operational issues with a structured approach; identify root causes, evaluate options, and implement effective countermeasures.
• Communicate clearly up, down, and across the organization to sustain alignment, accountability, and consistent production results.
• Cross collaboration between Manufacturing, Engineering, Facilities Engineering, maintenance, and Supply Chain to drive resolution of issues.

Skills

Problem Solving

Data Gathering & Analysis

Performance Management

Analytical Thinking

Decision Making & Critical Thinking

Planning & Organizing

Effective Communication

Accuracy & Attention to Detail

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Career Area:

Manufacturing

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.

Production Manager – Lower Power Train

Location: Decatur, IL

Relocation Assistance: Offered

Visa Sponsorship: Not offered

Travel: Up to 5%

Work Arrangement: On-site

Job Summary

As 1st shift Production Manager in Decatur, Illinois, you will oversee and coordinate a complex production line, ensuring safe, high‑quality, on‑time manufacturing. You'll lead daily execution by preparing schedules, resolving production issues, and reinforcing operating procedures and standards, while developing teams and strengthening a culture of continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate day‑to‑day execution for a complex production line, aligning staffing, materials flow, and priorities to meet safety, quality, and delivery commitments.
• Create and maintain production reports and records (process performance, tooling issues, inventory) and provide actionable recommendations to improve safety, productivity, and quality.
• Prepare, maintain, and improve standard operating documentation, ensuring processes and products meet defined safety and quality standards.
• Supervise and direct production teams: assign work, coordinate across teams, monitor performance, remove barriers, and ensure a safe work environment.
• Train and onboard new team members; manage scheduling and resolve work conflicts to maintain stable, efficient shift execution.
• Troubleshoot operational issues with a structured approach; identify root causes, evaluate options, and implement effective countermeasures.
• Communicate clearly up, down, and across the organization to sustain alignment, accountability, and consistent production results.
• Cross collaboration between Manufacturing. Engineering, Facilities Engineering, maintenance, and Supply Chain to drive resolution of issues.

Preferred Skills

• Experience leading in an automated manufacturing environment, including multi‑team coordination and shift leadership.
• Experience leading large-scale operational transformation, automation, or process improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrated success leading Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, Kaizen, Six Sigma, or Operational Excellence initiatives

Required Skills

• Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience desired.
• Problem Solving: Ability to identify engineering and operational challenges, evaluate alternatives, analyze risks, and implement effective solutions.
• Data Gathering & Analysis: Experience collecting, analyzing, and utilizing operational data to drive informed business decisions and performance improvements.
• Performance Management: Demonstrated ability to coach employees, provide actionable feedback, and support workforce development initiatives.
• Analytical Thinking: Capability to evaluate complex situations, determine root causes, and implement new processes and controls.
• Decision Making & Critical Thinking: Proven ability to organize information, prioritize competing demands, and make sound operational decisions for newly developed manufacturing processes and equipment.
• Planning & Organizing: Experience integrating new technologies, developing action plans, managing priorities, and executing against production objectives.
• Effective Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage all levels of the organization.
• Accuracy & Attention to Detail: Commitment to operational discipline, quality standards, and execution excellence.

Summary Pay Range:

$97,530.00 - $146,290.00

Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar.

Benefits:

Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. This is a summary list of benefits.

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits*
• Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer, etc.)*
• 401(k) savings plans*
• Health Savings Account (HSA)*
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*
• Health Lifestyle Programs*
• Employee Assistance Program*
• Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts*
• Career Development*
• Incentive bonus*
• Disability benefits
• Life Insurance
• Parental leave
• Adoption benefits
• Tuition Reimbursement

* These benefits also apply to part‑time employees

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.