Essay - Kia Caterpillar Tractor Co Introduction This Report is a Case...

KIA

***** Tractor Co

Introduction

This report is a case summary and key *****sues (KIA) analysis of the Caterpillar Tractor Co. The KIA is a strategy development tool that can help assess a company's competitive position ***** help create a winning org*****nizational plan. The KIA information is presented in a report form*****t from a customer's perspective. ***** g*****thered information ********** determine where Caterpillar stands from a customer's point of view in relation to competitors.

Statement of Issue

***** ***** the Caterpillar Tractor Co. keep investors satisfied and environmentalists happy while at ***** same time maintaining its current industry leadership position and thus assuring continued success holding or gaining market share, pr*****itability, and economic productivity well into the future in this highly competitive technologically changing global economy?

Present Situation

From a customer perspective, C*****terpillar currently operates three main business lines: Machinery, Engines and Financial Products. The Fortune 100 Company is by far the world's number one manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, and industrial gas turbines. The company has at times been hampered by international business conduct such as understanding often accepted international bribery techniques and local governmental policies yet still has a good record of meeting international and local environmental regulations, using creative developmental and manufacturing solutions, solving customer's financial and environmental challenges and being an advocate for free trade in the world construction *****. The ***** ***** consistently generated attractive returns for its ********** *****holders and has an extensive product line. M*****y of their goods are product line leaders. Unlike the rest of the industry, ***** company is well funded in R&D and ***** known for creative manufacturing and constantly enhancing product features. One strong aspect of ***** business is replacement parts which generates as much income as the sale of original equipment.

Globalization h***** increase the prospect of competition in construction, mining and other industry related markets as the ***** begins to migrate into lesser-developed regions. The global market introduces new intensified *****, new financial *****, new expansion requirements, ***** ***** investment operations in developing countries. CAT no longer sees ***** base competition as only International Harvester, John Deer of other US based manufactures. Today the competition entails *****eign governments as well ***** private companies. The global ***** has also created new approaches to purchasing, leasing and maintenance of equipment. Technology advances will continually create a dem***** for advances in efficiency and fuel consumption enhancements. Other trends include a migr*****tion towards leasing and rentals as a middleman industry gains momentum ***** opposed to purchasing decisions being made by individual construction *****.

Desired Situation

The company must get a better ***** of the global ***** ***** become ***** acclimated in the new world economy. The ***** has been slow ***** accept partner*****g as a b*****se for product distribution. ***** uses the 'run the entire operation from Peoria' line of reasoning and that approach can not take advantage of regional or ***** experience, ***** tax and cost relief and ***** locally generated perks. CAT's customers