Information on John Deere and near by cities (Des Moines, Davenport: health insurance, low crime)

[zack123]

Hello friends,

I would appreciate if you impart some information on how John Deere is as an employer, working enviroment and living in the surrounding cities?

[MastermindDSM]

John Deere has locations through out the state; Quad Cities, Johnston, Waterloo to name a few. I assume you are referring to the Quad Cities. Correct?

[Luke9686]

Don't they have a plant in Ankeny also? If so, Ankeny is a very nice town. Great schools, nice area, low crime. The only drawback really is that it's textbook suburbia.

[MastermindDSM]

Originally Posted by Luke9686

Don't they have a plant in Ankeny also? If so, Ankeny is a very nice town. Great schools, nice area, low crime. The only drawback really is that it's textbook suburbia.

yes they do.

[zz4guy]

They have factories in

Waterloo - they make row crop tractors and engines. There's a foundry, major assembly area, and a very large product design/engineerin center. Probably the largest Deere employing city in IA.

Dubuque - they make forestry and construction equipment. They are also the product design center for all construction/forestry products made in Dubuque and Davenport. May be the single largest Deere plant. I used to work there myself as an engineer. It's a very clean world class facility and very automated. Dubuque is a great town too. If I was to go work for Deere again it'd be in Dubuque no questions asked. The Dbq factory makes backhoes, dozers, skidsteers, winches, hoes for 110TLBs and an assortment of forestry equipment. They used to cast their own engines there until the 90s.

Davenport - ATDs, Loaders, and other construction equipment. Large facility, but not as large as DBQ. I believe they make harvesters at davenport too. Nice clean facility, just like DBQ. Although maybe not as automated.

Ankeny - not sure what they make here. They do some GPS designing I hear.

Working at Deere is great. People are excited about their product and are friendly. One negative I hear is that once you leave permanent employment you cannot be hired back to work direct. Also their health insurance is slightly lacking compared to other companies. But it's still good.

[mfrerkes]

Though not technically Iowa, John Deere has their largest concentration of employment just a couple miles outside of Iowa in Moline, Illinois. There are several major Deere operations on the Illinois side of the Quad Cities.

1) The World Headquarters - 80th Street in Moline. This is almost entirely white-collar employment as no manufacturing exists on-site. If you want a clerical/professional position, this is likely where you'll find it.

2) Seeding - River Drive in Moline. Planters are assembled at this facility, which has 20 acres under one roof.

3) Harvester - East Moline. Approximately 4 million square feet in size, it produces Deere combines and is the largest facility of its type in the world.

4) Parts Distribution Center - Milan. A very large facility (though I don't have any square footage on it) which ships Deere parts to dealerships all over the world.

There are also several smaller office sites located around the Illinois Quad Cities which handle various clerical functions of the company.

[RonnieJonez]

^^^

Are you trying to imply that the John Deere operations of the Quad Cities are significantly more major than those in the Des Moines metropolitan area? How dare you do that! You are indirectly trying to say the QC is better for business than DSM! How could John Deere not have chosen Des Moines for it's headquarters!?!!!!!!

That should be mathematically impossible!!!

[SharpHawkeye]

Yes, John Deere chose the Quad Cities. In the 1800's.

They also have a plant in Ottumwa, for whoever's keeping score.

[mfrerkes]

Originally Posted by RonnieJonez

^^^

How could John Deere not have chosen Des Moines for it's headquarters!?!!!!!! That should be mathematically impossible!!!

It may have been chronologically impossible. Deere and Company was formed almost 20 years before Des Moines was incorporated as a city.

I wonder how much "schmoozing" Des Moines could do now to lure them from Moline.

[RonnieJonez]

Maybe Moline should have signs reading "JETSET".

I can actually see some of the fanatical Des Moines people being upset that they didn't use it first.