Caterpillar VST: Designing for the Realities of the Field

Overview

Cycle Timer is a mobile-first application within Caterpillar’s Value Simulation Tool for capturing and analyzing machine cycle times in the field. I led the UI design and overall UX direction for a complete redesign of the (extremely limited) existing application, incorporating subject-matter expertise and user feedback into the experience from study setup through results review.

The Challenge

Users need to observe working machines while recording precise transitions between cycle segments. Their attention cannot remain on a phone screen. The challenge was to support accurate timing through clear controls and immediate feedback, then turn the captured data into useful performance insights. 

Context + Constraints

The application needed to accommodate job sites with limited or no connectivity, touch interaction, and studies involving multiple machines running concurrently. Different machine applications require different cycle structures, including custom workflows. The experience therefore needed to combine configurable study setup with a timing interface that remained understandable during active use.

Key Design Decisions

The redesign prioritizes large touch targets and prominent timer displays during data capture. Sound and haptic cues confirm segment transitions so users can keep their attention on the machine. Detailed analysis is handled through separate results views: averages for a summary, time splits for comparison, and editable tables for inspecting or correcting individual values.

Implementation + Collaboration

I worked with business stakeholders, subject-matter experts, and developers to understand field workflows and technical requirements. Through prototyping and feedback, I designed product-family and application selection, study configuration, concurrent timers, and the results experience. Responsive layouts support mobile fieldwork while preserving access to detailed analysis on larger screens.

The "So What"

The resulting design connects study preparation, active timing, and post-study analysis in one workflow. It supports feedback beyond the visual interface and gives users a way to correct captured data after a study. The key design takeaway is that mobile field tools must account for the user’s attention and surroundings as carefully as the dimensions of the screen.