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Perry Facility to Close; Work Relocated to Stuart Facility
PERRY, GA., NOV. 8, 2001 - Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc. today announced plans to consolidate its manufacturing operations in the Southeast to reduce excess capacity and enhance competitiveness.
The plan calls for moving the production of commercial aircraft structures now being manufactured in Perry, Ga., to the Vought plant in Stuart, Fla. The work relocation will affect approximately 365 factory and administrative employees in Perry.
"In no way does this decision reflect on the performance of our Perry employees, who have made significant contributions to Vought's success," said Gordon Williams, Vought President and Chief Executive Officer. "Regrettably, the dramatic downturn in the commercial air transport industry impacts our operations. The rapid decline in business has reached a point where it is no longer financially feasible for us to operate the Perry site."
Transfer of aircraft door production lines to Florida will begin immediately and is expected to be complete by year-end 2002. Vought does not anticipate any work delays due to this consolidation.
Vought employees in Perry will be offered relocation assistance and the opportunity to transfer to the Florida site to support the work being moved. Those who choose not to relocate will be offered pay incentive of eight weeks to stay with the company through the transition period. They also will receive employment counseling and help finding a new job in addition to the company's standard severance of eight weeks pay.
Williams indicated that today's announcement will mitigate previously announced work force reductions in Stuart. Vought employs approximately 325 people in Stuart, where manufacturing operations include assemblies for medium-to-large aircraft, engine nacelle systems and components.
Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc. (www.voughtaircraft.com) is the world's largest independent supplier of aerostructures. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company provides wings, fuselage subassemblies, empennages, nacelles, thrust reversers and other components for prime manufacturers of aircraft. Vought has 6,000 employees and annual sales exceeding $1 billion. It has operations in Dallas; Hawthorne, Calif.; Stuart, Fla.; Milledgeville, Ga.; and Perry, Ga. |
