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Caterpillar has more than 122,400 employees worldwide, including 16,650 full-time workers at seven locations in the Peoria area. Here is a look at the companys central Illinois operations.

Caterpillars footprint
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MOSSVILLE
What happens here: This is home to the companys global research and development headquarters where teams develop technologies, tools and processes impacting all company products. Many power systems engineers and global purchasing teams are located here. Number of workers: 5,150, including 19-year employee Valerie Wiest, who manages the group that uses mathematical and physics-based computer equipment models.

EDWARDS

What happens here: The 720-acre plant is where operator-instructors perform product demonstrations and classroom training for dealers, customers and employees. Number of workers: 20, including Nathan Myers, a two-year employee who provides product training.

WASHINGTON PEORIA
What happens here: The Peoria Proving Ground provides validation of new machine designs. Prototype and pilot machines undergo reliability, durability and performance tests to ensure they meet customer requirements. Number of workers: 300, including 14-year employee Brian Blunier, who performs quality tests on motor graders.

EAST PEORIA
What happens here: The plant designs, engineers, builds and supports some of the worlds largest mining and construction machines and parts. Information Technology offices are also housed here. Number of workers: 5,000, including sevenyear employee Marcus Kyser, who trouble shoots and problem solves issues in the medium tractor assembly process.

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MORTON
What happens here: Caterpillars Logistics headquarters, where millions of parts are stocked and shipped to dealers and customers around the world. Number of workers: 2,100, including 24-year employee Holly Teig, who develops parts distribution network strategies serving customers and Caterpillar dealers worldwide.

MAPLETON
What happens here: The modern, electric melting foundry produces cast iron cylinder blocks, heads and liners used in Caterpillar engine platforms. Number of workers: 470, including 30-year employee Scott Crabtree, who operates radiocontrolled cranes and pours iron.

What happens here: Caterpillars world headquarters since 1967 and the Caterpillar Visitors Center, which opened in 2012, are both located Downtown. Number of workers: 3,600, including 12-year employee Alka Upadhyay, who identifies potential customers.

My father worked at Caterpillar in the 70s in a group whose role was to figure out if these new computer-based techniques to evaluate structures really worked, Wiest says. Its fascinating to me that I now lead a group that performs computer simulations that my dad probably wouldnt have dreamed possible.

I get to train customers on how to operate Cat equipment the way it was designed to be used, Myers says. One day I can be in South Dakota in a gold mine training in the snow and the next week I can be driving our (semi truck) to Texas to perform a production study.

I like being in the iron, which is working directly with the machines, Blunier says. Im also continuously inspired with the intense customer focus my coworkers have.

Its rewarding that you can change career paths and never leave Caterpillar, Upadhyay says. My degree is in mechanical engineering, but I have worked in marketing with dealers in the Caribbean and Central America, and most recently moved into my current position where Ill lead teams to increase sales.

Ive been fortunate to work on a special project, which took me to one of our European facilities to benchmark paint and assembly processes, Kyser says.

Ive had the opportunity to travel around the world for projects throughout my Caterpillar career, Teig says.

The best part of my job is the team at Mapleton, Crabtree says. I have met many good people in all positions at Caterpillar through the years people I consider friends.

Source: Caterpillar