Value Chain Engineer: End-to-End Process Optimizer

Caterpillar Inc.; Tennessee; On-site; USD 89,000 - 134,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

401(k) savings plan

Career Development

Incentive bonus

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. is seeking a Value Chain Engineer in Decatur, IL to optimize end-to-end value chain performance across inbound, value-added, and outbound processes.

You will build business cases, develop value stream models, and drive cross-functional improvements that reduce waste and improve cost, quality, and customer value. The role emphasizes data-driven problem solving, collaboration with engineering and operations teams, and delivering sustainable results in a manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, Operations Management, or a related field.
• Experience analyzing and improving end-to-end value chain or supply chain processes.
• Process mapping and value stream mapping experience.
• Experience developing business cases and capability studies.
• Continuous improvement experience utilizing Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies.
• Strong analytical and data-driven problem-solving skills.
• Experience implementing process improvements across cross-functional teams.
• Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and process optimization experience.
• Experience supporting manufacturing, product development, or heavy equipment operations.

Responsibilities

• Analyze inbound, value-added, and outbound value chain processes to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Develop business cases, capability studies, and value chain assessments to support process optimization initiatives.
• Create and maintain value stream models that depict current-state and future-state network configurations.
• Implement new processes, tools, and workflow improvements that enhance end-to-end value chain performance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to govern process changes and ensure alignment across workstreams.
• Identify and eliminate inefficiencies related to time, cost, materials, and energy consumption.
• Evaluate process performance metrics and recommend actions that drive operational excellence.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on quality, velocity, cost reduction, and customer satisfaction.
• Facilitate process mapping activities and document workflows to identify gaps, redundancies, and improvement opportunities.
• Lead problem-solving and root cause analysis efforts to address process challenges and improve business outcomes.

Skills

Business Process Design

Business Process Improvement

Process Management

Analytical Thinking

Effective Communications

Root Cause Analysis (RCA)

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Engineering / related field

Job description

Caterpillar Inc. is seeking a Value Chain Engineer in Decatur, IL to optimize end-to-end value chain performance across inbound, value-added, and outbound processes.

You will build business cases, develop value stream models, and drive cross-functional improvements that reduce waste and improve cost, quality, and customer value. The role emphasizes data-driven problem solving, collaboration with engineering and operations teams, and delivering sustainable results in a manufacturing environment.