Jim Reeb

Advisory Board Member

Director of Manufacturing (Retired)
Caterpillar  Inc.

Jim joined Caterpillar Inc. in 1973 as an hourly employee in Joliet, Illinois.  He completed a 4-year manufacturing apprentice program in 1979.  During this period, Jim began attending college.  Jim earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of St. Francis and a MBA from Governors State University.

Over his 37-year career, Jim managed all functions within Operations, Logistics and Procurement.  He has also managed a Product Engineering organization responsible for the design of power train components.

From 2005 until his retirement in July 2010, Jim was Caterpillar’s Director of Manufacturing.  He was responsible for Caterpillar’s Manufacturing Research and Development Division and the development and global deployment of the Caterpillar Production System.   

Jim is a member of SME and serves on the advisory board for the Technology Innovation Program. He is past Chairman of the Valley Industrial Association and has served on the advisory boards for Georgia Tech’s School of Mechanical Engineering and the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT).