Cummins Argumentative Essay

Rudolph Diesel invented the diesel engine in the late 1800s. Though Rudolph was the inventor, it was Clessie Cummins, a native of Indiana, who was widely known for inventions that improved the diesel engine. In 1911, Clessie Cummins helped improve the speed of a diesel engine that went on to win the Indianapolis 500 race. Working as a chauffeur and mechanic for William Irwin Miller, Clessie had the vision to start a company. William Irwin Miller was a banker and successful investor, who strongly supported Clessie and provided the financial backing for the company’s launch. Thus, in 1919, Clessie Cummins founded Cummins Engine Company. Cummins was one of the first companies to take advantage of the innovative technology that Rudolph Diesel had developed. The company was founded in Columbus, Indiana, which remains the headquarters today. William Irwin Miller’s great-nephew, J. Irwin Miller, took a leadership role within the company and led the company through a period of significant growth. The growth included international expansion, profitability, and innovation. J. Irwin Miller’s visionary leadership, coupled with Clessie’s passion for quality and reliability, propelled Cummins’ to grow at a rapid pace (“Cummins History”, 2016).
However, one of the key initiatives over the last five years has been moving from a multinational company to a global company. Over the five year time span, Cummins has become a global power leader (“Cummins History”, 2016). The company is organized into four distinct business units; engine, components, power generation, and distribution (“Overview”, 2016). Today, Cummins employs approximately 55,000 people worldwide. The company operates 600 company-owned and independent distributor locations and has a network of approximately 7,200 dealer locations in over 190 countries and territories. Furthermore, Cummins reported earnings of $1.4 billion on sales in 2015 (“About Us”,