Hd In Trouble

[Micmac]

I found this on another forum

 

 

Harley-Davidson plans production shutdowns and line rate adjustments at powertrain operations in Menomonee Falls and Wauwatosa, Wis., and at motorcycle assembly operations in York, Pa., and Kansas City, Mo.

 

The shutdowns and line rate adjustments are part of the OEM's plan to cut production by 25 to 30 percent and lay off up to 1,000 workers in an effort to reduce output, match demand and shrink inventories.

 

Sportster and V-Rod motorcycle final assembly operations and V-Rod motorcycle powertrain production in Kansas City, and production of Sportster motorcycle powertrains in Wauwatosa will be shut down for approximately 14 weeks in 2009, including the entire fourth quarter. The company anticipates that other production operations will be shut down for a total of approximately five weeks over the rest of 2009.

 

"When it comes to protecting and enhancing the brand, managing supply in line with demand is one of the most important things we can do," says H-D President and CEO Keith Wandell. "We've got a great lineup of motorcycles and one of our top priorities is to reduce complexity and improve efficiency throughout our product development and manufacturing processes."

 

H-D earlier this year announced plans to consolidate its two Milwaukee-area powertrain (engine and transmission) plants into one facility; consolidate paint and frame operations at its York facilities into one plant; and close its Franklin parts and accessories distribution center and consolidate those operations with general merchandise distribution through a third-party logistics company. Also, in April, the OEM completed the transition of its U.S. transportation fleet operations to a third-party provider as part of its restructuring initiatives.

 

Since the announcement of the original consolidation plans, Harley-Davidson has determined that the company's York operations are not currently competitive or sustainable.

 

H-D has undertaken a "two path" study to determine whether major, additional restructuring at York can achieve cost and efficiency targets to make the operations viable, or alternatively, whether the company will relocate the York operations to another U.S. location.

 

H-D leadership expects to make a decision on the status of the York operations later this year.

[Last Resort]

Yep, when you have excess production capability an economic slowdown really sucks, trust me.

 

This is why this is NOT a bad time to be a start up

You can built up as demand dictates

You can buy up machinery from recently shutdown competitors for pennies on the dollar

 

It's times like this that a good management team earns their money

 

 

Kind of like firemen ... seems like they are sitting around not doing anything but collecting a pay check ... but then a fire breaks out and you are glad they were there to save your ass

[Fugdbdt]

So Indian is going to buy up HD...?

 

Thanx, D

[It is Baloon]

Yeh. It'll be the first Fat Boy Chief Softail Six Speed Tranny Dresser.

 

START A LIST

[FiremanDave]

Yep, when you have excess production capability an economic slowdown really sucks, trust me.

 

Kind of like firemen ... seems like they are sitting around not doing anything but collecting a pay check ... but then a fire breaks out and you are glad they were there to save your ass

 

Yep economic slowdowns do suck, firestations are closing down all over the country, equipment is going out of service in the areas that arn't closing down stations, and while layoffs are rare, loss of manpower due to attrition is rampant. Not to mention Obamas recent cut to LODD benifits for surviving families, by almost a third.