Here at the Cardinal Drive facility in Corinth, Mississippi, 550 men and women are manufacturing (and re-manufacturing) equipment that stands out—and not just because of Caterpillar’s unmistakable bright yellow paint. The folks at Cat Reman are giving Cat equipment second, third, and fourth lives through remanufacturing. The AEM Manufacturing Express joined Cat Reman today to celebrate the achievements of this vibrant equipment manufacturing community.
When an equipment part or engine component reaches the end of its lifecycle, customers can return it to their Cat dealer. The returned components are salvaged and remanufactured at Cat Reman facilities around the world, like the Cardinal Drive facility, before re-entering as Cat Reman products with like new quality. According to Phil Kelliher, Senior Vice President, it’s a matter of doing right by the people who own and operate Cat equipment. “Ongoing support is about providing the best overall solution for the customer.”
Each and every day, workers identify unseen opportunities to give equipment new life. How do they manage it? Through a meticulous process of deconstruction, restoration, and assembly, they make old machines into like-new ones.
Continual self-improvement is part of the ethos. The team takes pride in development – demonstrating their commitment through programs that are vital for both the manufacturing industry and the community. Here, team members can bridge the skills gap and contribute to local economic growth by fostering a strong, capable workforce. On Monday morning, that attitude was on display as a dedicated group of Cat Reman employees played the Manufacturing Challenge again and again, improving their score with each attempt. ‘Complacency’ doesn’t seem to be in Cat’s vocabulary.
To Lynsey Robertson, Factory Manager at the Corinth facility, that’s what she likes most about her job: Cat Reman’s focus on the people that make the equipment possible. In addition to a just-kicked-off campaign for the local United Way, Caterpillar continually supports the people of northern Mississippi through workforce development. “I’ve learned so much in terms of technical skills and soft skills,” Robertson said. Her first job with Caterpillar came as she was earning her engineering degree, and the rest is history.
Here in Corinth, everything and everyone gets an opportunity to thrive—even if it’s within a brand-new set of circumstances. Cat Reman takes pride in providing opportunities for veterans and their family members through a well-supported transition from the front line to the production line. The Wall of Veterans at the Mississippi Reman facility is living proof, boasting nearly 50 servicemen and women.
Continual support, plus continuous belief in the power of second chances: it’s the recipe that has led this one-of-a-kind facility to contribute to Caterpillar’s half-century of remanufacturing success. At Cat Reman, they don’t just get things right the first time; they get it right again and again.
