Steve Shoemaker 

Steve Shoemaker was Vice President of Engineering for Caterpillar’s Earthmoving Division until his retirement in December 2022. Since 2017, Shoemaker led the division’s global product development with offices around the world.  

Shoemaker began his career at Caterpillar in 1989 as a design engineer in Illinois, working in various engine roles for fourteen years, including overseas assignments. He then transitioned to the Electronics division in 2003, focusing on engine and machine controls and power electronics. In 2006, he became Engineering Director for the Building Construction Products Division in North Carolina, where he established global engineering teams. Shoemaker’s responsibilities grew further in 2012 when he was named Chief Engineer for the Excavation division in Japan, overseeing development of tracked and wheeled excavators and managing over 600 engineers. 

In 2023, Shoemaker joined the Lean Enterprise Institute as a Senior Advisor for Lean Product and Process Development (LPPD). In that role, he intends to grow awareness and deepen knowledge of LPPD through coaching organizations and writing. 

Shoemaker holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Purdue University.