On Aug. 30, the manufacturer announced the Dundee factory is to keep annual production at 6.5 million units, but plans to lay off almost 10% of its workforce.
According to the plant’s personnel manager, Ian Peart, the job cuts have been made as a result of the decision to change from a five team to a four-team shift pattern. This move is expected to increase production on working days, but lead to a number of “down” days in the production cycle.
Peart told T&A Michelin is constantly looking at ways to improve efficiency in the current “ferociously competitive market.” While Peart denied that the money would be spent on automated machinery like Michelin’s C3M system, he did not rule out future investments this or similar production machinery. Instead efficiency improvements will be focused on “further development” of the existing work force.
Some 30 of the 90 voluntary redundancies have already been arranged. The Dundee factory currently employs around 1,000 workers. Staff had previously feared production would be cut.
