John Deere
In 1837 John Deere, a blacksmith, founded Deere & Company. John Deere had the intent
to build a business that was based on integrity, innovation, quality and commitment. This
helped to grow the company into one of the worlds most admired businesses.
John Deere is best known for the first commercially successful plow and is now known for
their quality agricultural equipment. They are also the leading manufacturer of farm
equipment and a major name in construction equipment. John Deere financial is known as
being one of the largest equipment finance companies.
April 2014 John Deere introduced over 60 new products in South America and invested
$40 million in Brazil to expand sugarcane harvester and sprayer production capacity by
30%. February 2014 there was a definitive agreement to start selling irrigation operations.
October 2013, John Deere invested $30 million in Germany to expand manufacturing
capacity and flexibility.
John Deer has factory locations spread over the world including US, Canada, Europe,
Brazil, Russia, China, India, Mexico, Argentina, Israel and New Zealand.
John Deere skid steers have more than 100 attachments and offer quick-tatch which allows
you to change from a bucket to a broom or whatever attachment you might need in no
time. There are also options available for customers that would like either hand or foot
controls.
Case Questions
(a) How to choose the suppliers that should be integrated early in developing the new
Deere skid steer loader?
i. What criteria – limit to four – should Scott Nolan use to screen suppliers to be integrated
into the early phases of the Deere skid steer loader development process? Why?
