Abstract

Join the MIT Leaders for Global Operations program for a special web seminar with Denise Johnson, LGO Class of 1997 (SM Mechanical Engineering, MBA). Denise will bring her 25+ year career in the automotive and heavy equipment industries to the upcoming MIT LGO Conference on the Future of Manufacturing in the U.S., at MIT on May 8-9, as a member of the panel on the Workforce of the Future.

This web seminar provides the LGO and broader MIT alumni community with a chance to hear from Denise about her career since graduation, her perspective on the different roles she has had at General Motors and Caterpillar—both in the United States and in Brazil—and the impact of her LGO training in management, engineering and leadership. She will also preview some of the themes of the Workforce of the Future panel at the upcoming LGO conference.

Biography

Denise Johnson is the General Manager for Specialty Products, Caterpillar Remanufacturing and Components, with responsibly for 17 facilities across the Americas, Europe and Asia, including product and aftermarket responsibility for Caterpillar's construction and mining components. Product lines include couplings and fittings, oil coolers, plastics and rubber products, seals and gaskets, pins, fluids and filters, tubes, bearings, fasteners, and tires and rims. Additionally, Johnson oversees key divisional functions such as Caterpillar Production System, 6 Sigma, Purchasing and Quality.

Prior to joining Caterpillar, Johnson was the President and Managing Director of GM do Brasil, São Caetano do Sul, Brasil, where she managed operations for GM's third largest market. She led a product strategy shift to develop new emerging market products and launched three new products as part of the product portfolio renewal. In addition, Johnson led sales and aftersales renewal efforts working with over 600 Brazilian dealers.

Johnson spent 22 years in the auto industry beginning as a product engineer and held various positions within engineering, manufacturing, and planning prior to being named as plant manager of Oshawa Truck Assembly in Ontario, Canada. She also held leadership positions as the GM's Vice President of North America Labor Relations and the Vehicle Line Director / Vehicle Chief Engineer for small car products. She was awarded the Automotive Hall of Fame, Young Leadership and Excellence Award in 2002.

Johnson received a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan State University. She earned Masters degrees in mechanical engineering and business administration from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.