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Article: At CAT they're driving supplier integration into the design process.(Caterpillar Inc. Engines Division Supply Management)(includes related article on Annual Quality Initiative Awards)(Cover Story)
- Article from:
- Purchasing
- Article date:
- March 7, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. (US). This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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After 120 years in existence, it would seem there is little room for improving the design of an internal combustion engine. But leaders at Caterpillar's Engine Division say rising customer and environmental requirements make constant design improvements mandatory. To stay truly world competitive, says Don Western, vice president of operations, "we must produce million-mile engines with more features., more reliable performance, lower maintenance, outstanding product support, and progressively lower ownership and operating costs."
Market-driven mandates have caused the Engine Division to transform itself and its design process in three essential ways:
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