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Bombardier job cuts

Posted in: Discussion and Debate | UK Manufacturing

Bombardier

Tue, 5 Jul 2011 3:59 pm

Jon Excell

Posts: 0

What does Bombardier's decision to cut up to 1,400 jobs at its Derby site tell us about the difficulties of maintaining a manufacturing base in the UK?

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Chris Wood

Posts: 5

Tue, 5 Jul 2011 4:09 pm

I think that there are two sides to this - the high quality of our manufacturing output - and the cost of that output.

I have always thought with the rise of China and other eastern manufacturing countries we could take the advantage of a gap and turn ourselves into a high value product country, supporting cutting edge innovation in all fields (even more than we do already).

There are small software start ups - Milk Roundabout I think its called that is a small step to that vision but I think we need to stop kidding ourselves that we can compete with the output of China and stop clinging onto the past.

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Anonymous

Tue, 5 Jul 2011 4:15 pm

Dudes, all's fair in love and war. Bombardier might be on the brink in Derby they are getting along with Siemens very nicely in Germany working on a contract for Deutsche Bahn (DB).

In its first quarterly report, Bombardier said it was in a framework agreement with Siemens to be a partner to develop and supply components for up to 300 ICx high speed trains for DB.

A firm order for a total of up to 130 trains valued at $1.8bn for Bombardier was obtained under this framework agreement.

DB is reportedly planning to place an additional order with Siemens for a further 90 trains. The combined order volume of 220 trains would be worth $3bn to Bombardier. The remaining 80 trains can be ordered at any time until 2030.

Sweet, isn't it?

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S. Martin

Posts: 3

Wed, 6 Jul 2011 1:38 pm

There are certainly two sides to this, one being that all the jobs lost in Derby are not as a result of the Thameslink contract, they are because of a number of other contracts combined, and for the loss of 1200 or 1400 jobs we will gain 2000 jobs.

This in itself tells a story, a sudden net gain of a minimum of 600 jobs overall in our time of recession and job shortages. From this perspective alone its a no brainer.

We also have to ask the other poigniant question, why are Bombardier not winning new contracts? particularly as this is responsible for a number of the job losses. Is this something to do with a lack of investment in their Derby site? and still using the original buildings and labour intensive methodoligies of this old and decrepid site. Is it as a result of poor manufacturing methodologies, or simply the attitude of the management, or a combination of these and other factors.

Maybe it is that Bombardier have what they want, the order books and clients.

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Reg

Posts: 1

Wed, 6 Jul 2011 3:06 pm

Problem which every engineer meets now days is most deals are done on price and not costs. Every one knows that there is a price to pay if you go to cheap with out looking to the final costs

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Stuart Nathan

Posts: 2

Wed, 6 Jul 2011 3:40 pm

Christian Wolmar's article on this in today's Guardian is excellent. He argues that there was no need to award the contract to Siemens under EU regulations; that the effect on Derby as a city should have been considered; and that there is still enough rail work in the UK to keep Bombardier going, if the government awards them the contract.

http://goo.gl/6WCH9

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fat man on a bicycle

Posts: 3

Thu, 7 Jul 2011 6:57 am

Considering the huge shortage of Engineers in the marketplace, then perhaps on balance this is good news for the Industry as a whole, however dreadful it may be for those involved. If we cannot make railway rolling stock competitively, then let's get these talented Engineers into the vacancies we can't fill because the focus of Education is now Quantity not Quality. Good Mechanical Designers, come to Bristol; I need you !

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  • From fat man on a bicycle, Thu, 7 Jul 2011 6:57 am in Bombardier job cuts

    Considering the huge shortage of Engineers in the marketplace, then perhaps on balance this is good news for the Industry as a whole, however dreadful it may be for those involved. If we cannot make railway rolling stock competitively, then let's get these talented Engineers into the vacancies we can't fill because the focus of Education is now Quantity not Quality. Good Mechanical Designers, come to Bristol; I need you !

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