John Deere 2009 Annual Report Download - page 7

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On behalf of the John Deere team, December 17, 2009
Samuel R. Allen
New for 2009, the John Deere DB120 planter sets
the standard for size and productivity in the
large-frame market. The 48-row, 120-foot-wide
planter is company’s largest model. Award-winning
technology allows for precise control of planting
units. That helps reduce input costs and the chance
of overseeding.
What about employee safety? John Deere facilities are among the
safest in the world – and this exceptional employee-safety record
got even better in 2009. The company’s lost-time frequency rate
showed further improvement and remained in line with historic
lows. Our hydraulic-cylinder factory in Illinois set an all-time
company record for operating 14 consecutive years without a
lost-time injury.
Deere operations extended their proud record of environmental
achievement and stewardship in 2009 by, among other means,
increasing the use of renewable-energy sources to reduce
greenhouse-gas emissions. Our factory in Pune, India, installed a
rooftop solar water-heating system to minimize electricity
consumption. Demonstrating a commitment to sustainable
operations, the company’s factory in Torreon, Mexico, created an
ecological preserve for recycling landscape materials used onsite.
We continued developing product solutions that are less disruptive
to the environment and conserve natural resources. Soil moisture
monitoring sensors from John Deere Water are helping farmers
better manage their irrigation needs and use water more judiciously.
Also, new hybrid fairway and greens mowers offer reduced fuel
consumption, quieter operation and less chance of hydraulic
leaks.
Promoting Inclusion & Collaboration Through Team Enrichment
Through the aligned efforts of a dedicated global workforce over
50,000 strong, John Deere is establishing a performance-based
culture that is making quite an impact on our results. In this
regard, the company’s team-enrichment initiative made further
progress in 2009. By promoting a more global and inclusive work
environment, Team Enrichment aims to help the company attract,
develop, and retain talented employees from all backgrounds.
During the year, the company introduced a series of metrics to
chart our progress in these critical areas. Another focus was
integrating solutions identifi ed by regional team-enrichment
councils into the operating units. Included was a teaming process
that reinforces inclusive behaviors and supports global teamwork
and collaboration.
Last year’s employee survey showed widespread improvement in
key dimensions of engagement while stressing the importance of
strengthening the manager-employee relationship. Further, in
recognition of our focus on developing employees to help meet
tomorrow’s business challenges, Deere’s leadership-development
efforts were ranked 14th in the world by a Fortune magazine
survey.
Well-Positioned for Future
All of us at John Deere are proud of our performance in 2009. In
the face of intense economic pressure, the company remained on
a profi table course, bolstered its fi nancial position and extended
its global market presence.
Looking ahead, we’re forecasting another profi table year in 2010
though conditions are expected to remain challenging overall.
Building on gains from 2009 and earlier years, we’ll be setting the
stage to fully capitalize on a future recovery in our markets. We’ll
be making preparation for a promising future based on the world’s
prospects for population and economic growth over time.
The global economic slump has taken a toll on the results of
John Deere and other companies. But it has not changed the fact
that an expanding population still needs food to eat, clothes to
wear, shelter to live in, and infrastructure to support
its lifestyle. Nor has the recession changed our belief that John
Deere remains exceptionally well-positioned to respond to these
needs, day in and day out.
We understand the importance of this opportunity and are
excited by the chance it gives us to enable human fl ourishing,
and promote a higher quality of life, for all people throughout
the world.