Bombardier to reduce manpower and undertake strategic hiring in 2016/17
Bombardier announced (17-Feb-2016) it will take steps to optimise its workforce with a combination of a manpower reduction and strategic hiring in 2016 and 2017. The company's global workforce will be reduced by 7000 production and non-production employees, including 2000 contractors. Impacted positions are mostly based in Canada and Europe. Reductions will commence in the coming weeks. The reduction will be partially offset by hiring in certain growth areas, notably to support the ramp-up of strategic programmes and projects, including the C Series. The measures are based on modified production rates for some aircraft models, the ramping-down of major aerospace development programmes and projects and efforts to improve productivity under the company's transformation plan. The company expects USD250 million to USD300million in restructuring charges. President and CEO Alain Bellemare said, "These adjustments are always difficult. They are important to ensure that, with our 64,000 employees worldwide, we continue to create superior value for our customers, be more competitive, and deliver improved financial performance." Targeted workforce reductions by business segment are as follows:
- Aerostructures and Engineering Services: 2500;
- Business Aircraft: 500;
- Commercial Aircraft: 0;
- Product Development Engineering, Aerospace: 800;
- Transportation: 3200. [more - original PR]