An improved dehydrogenation catalyst bed system for olefin production utilizing classical processing techniques is disclosed. The catalyst bed system comprises a dehydrogenation catalyst comprising an active component selected from an oxide of a metal of Group 4 or Group 5 or Group 6 and combinations thereof and a support selected from aluminum oxide, aluminas, alumina monohydrate, alumina trihydrate, alumina-silica, transition aluminas, alpha-alumina, silica, silicate, aluminates, calcined hydrotalcites, zeolites and combinations thereof mixed with a first inert material selected from any material that is catalytically inactive when subjected to reaction conditions that can effect dehydrogenation of olefins and that has a high density and high heat capacity and that is not capable of producing heat during any stage of the dehydrogenation process, and the dehydrogenation catalyst plus the first inert material then being physically mixed with a secondary component comprising a heat-generating inert material and a carrier capable of supporting the heat-generating inert material, wherein the secondary component is catalytically inert with respect to dehydrogenation reactions or to cracking or to coking and generates heat after being exposed to reducing and/or to oxidizing reaction conditions.