1. Mentoring:
Duringmy time at Deere,Ihave had the opportunitytomentormanyyoungercolleaguesandnew
employees. Thishasoccurredeitherasopportunitiesarose inthe course of projectworkor more
formallyasthe directsupervisorof internsand EDPs. Thishas probablybeenthe mostrewarding
accomplishmentIcanreflectaboutduringmytime at Deere. There are several majorareasof
mentoringthatstandout inmy mind:
1) Workingwithengineeringstaff atChinaEngineeringCenterin Tianjin,Chinainthe development
of newcombinesandcornpickersforthe Chinese market. The workinvolvededucating
designersandengineersaboutthe properdesignof farmmachinerytoaddressthe
mechanizationneedsof farmersin China. Thiswascomplicatedbythe adoptionof verystrict
emissionsandnoise regulations. Myexperienceworkingonthe familyfarminthe 1960s and
1970s provedtobe an invaluablesource of inspirationforme inthiseffort.
2) Duringthe latterhalf of mycareer, I devotedsignificanttime workingwithJohnDeere Power
Systemsinthe applicationof existingenginestocurrentandnew combines. Thisenabledthe
enterprise tostandardize enginehardware andvehicle auxiliariessuchascoolingsystemsfor
applicationstomultiple productlinesworldwide. IalsoworkedwithJDPS’sadvanced
developmentteamtoinvestigatenew technologiessuchasenhancedEGRand electricturbo-
compounding.
3) Applicationof basicengineeringprinciplestocultivatebetterunderstandingof energyefficiency
and combine productivitypredictions. The AnalysisTeamsaw value inthiseffortwhichhas
developedhigher-fidelityanalytical methodsandalloweddevelopmentof individualswhonow
are supportingageneral applicationof SystemEngineeringtonew products. Thiscertainlywill
resultinsignificantlyimprovedlevelsof fuelconsumptionandproductivityforfuture products.
4) Developmentof the Hybridcombine concepthasbeenagreatopportunityformentoring.
Duringthe developmentandfieldtestingof the hybridcombine in2010-2012, dozensof interns,
EDPs,techniciansandyoungengineersfoundopportunitiestocontribute inmanyandvarious
wayswhichculminatedinthe successful demonstrationof the technologyinaworking
prototype. Dozensof patentsrelatingtoelectricdrives,energystorage,thermalmanagement,
control systems,engines,andoperatorinterfacesstandwitnesstothe breadthof engagement
and enthusiasmof thisinnovativeconcept.