As the first General Manager of Komatsu’s Chattanooga Manufacturing Operation (CMO), Shohei Ochi didn’t solely oversee the factory from a desk in an office.
Instead, he was known to operate a WA450-1 wheel loader throughout the facility, observing operations from the cab and ensuring adherence to Komatsu’s manufacturing and safety framework.
Ochi would often use the machine to reposition materials, help maintain the yard and even clear snow to prevent weather-related shutdowns.
“The leader of the operation wasn’t leading from an office; he was in the workplace, seeing the conditions firsthand, talking with employees and using the machine to support the success of the operation,” said Jeff Martin, Komatsu’s Manager of Safety and Environment.
“That hands-on leadership, commitment to safety and relentless attention to detail helped establish a culture that continues to define CMO.”
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Originally built at the Chattanooga factory in 1988, Ochi’s WA450-1 wheel loader was created as a prototype and became the first Komatsu machine equipped with a Cummins-produced engine. As one of the earlier machine’s built at the plant, the loader was sent to Japan for quality evaluation, before returning to Tennessee to assist Ochi in his duties for several years.
In 1996, Ochi’s WA450-1 loader was sent to the Chattanooga-based Ken Garner Manufacturing, which produced excavator counterweights for Komatsu. There, the machine remained in continuous service until 2025.
“That means this machine didn’t just help build the foundation of CMO; it continued working for more than three decades afterwards,” Martin said. “In an era when many products are designed to be replaced, this loader stands as proof of what Komatsu quality really means.”
Established in 1985 as Komatsu’s first manufacturing facility in the United States, the Chattanooga plant has grown into a cornerstone of the company’s manufacturing network.
Today, the Chattanooga campus produces medium-size hydraulic excavators, articulated haul trucks and forestry equipment while supporting engineering, product development and supply chain operations that serve customers across North America.
Ochi’s loader returns
Ochi’s loader returned to the CMO campus in December and now serves as a permanent tribute to the people who helped establish the facility’s culture of quality, safety and continuous improvement.
The machine was restored by a team of Komatsu employees and unveiled during Komatsu CMO’s 40th anniversary celebration in July.
“Their work preserved not only the machine but a piece of our history,” Martin said. “This loader will remain on permanent display as a reminder of what we started, what we’ve accomplished together and what is possible when talented people commit themselves to a common purpose.”
