250 Workers stoo down at DSI due to faulty US parts

[jpd80]

Anyone confirm who supplier would be?

LINK

250 stood down at DSI Holdings
28 Mar, 2012 01:00 AM
WORKERS at Lavington’s DSI plant have been stood down until after Easter at the earliest.

The company stopped production yesterday because of a dispute with a US parts supplier.

Sean Morgan — the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union’s NSW vehicle division secretary — was shocked to hear of the stand-down of 250 workers.

He had arrived at the plant yesterday to assist in resolving an ongoing redundancies dispute.

“Essentially that has got to be put to the side because there’s a bigger issue to deal with,” Mr Morgan said.

“The workforce has been stood down following an all-hands meeting at 2pm.

“Unfortunately they have a vendor issue with one of their overseas suppliers, (which is) supplying the company with a faulty part.”

Mr Morgan said he was blind-sided by the announcement which devastated the DSI workforce.

“I just want to get it resolved,” he said.

“I just want people to go back to their jobs. This is never-ending.

“We’ve all got jobs today but these people are going home to uncertainty.”

The Border Mail attempted to speak with management at the Lavington plant but was told only that the stand-downs were related to a supply issue.

The company said senior *managers were all in meetings and no one was available.

Mr Morgan said he had been told the US company had supplied clutch plates to DSI for the past 2? years.

He said the plates were squealing and DSI had told the union they had been unable to resolve the problem.

“At the end of the shift today at 3.30pm, the whole plant will be closed for, in the immediate term, the rest of this week, all of next week, and my concern is that if the process isn’t fixed in America where the part is being manufactured, then this could be a protracted stand-down,” he said.

Mr Morgan said he had yesterday lodged an application with Fair Work Australia to test the legitimacy of the stand-downs, although he believed workers who had told him the fault lay with the American manufacturer.

[phillyc]

Not good. Hope it isn't going to be used as an excuse by the Chinese owners Geely to move all production off shore. There was potentially some very big volumes to come from current products as well as innovative future products.

Really hope that this situation is sorted out in a positive outcome ASAP.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by phillyc

Not good. Hope it isn't going to be used as an excuse by the Chinese owners Geely to move all production off shore. There was potentially some very big volumes to come from current products as well as innovative future products.

Really hope that this situation is sorted out in a positive outcome ASAP.

It wouldn't matter where the factory was if the same supplier wasn't supply a satisfactory component.

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

It wouldn't matter where the factory was if the same supplier wasn't supply a satisfactory component.

You're right. If the supplied part isn't up to scratch. It could stop a factory anywhere in the world. My only concern is that what has been said is the whole truth and once sorted the factory is back up to full speed.

[b2tf]

What do DSI make?

[Mr Hardware]

transmissions etc. DSI is the old BTR.

BW->BTR->ION->DSI.

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by b2tf

What do DSI make?

Drivetrain Systems International. They are BTR Ion under a new name. Essentially the ION executives bought out the parent company, kept it afloat, started developing newer products with SsangYong being a customer of the new 6spd auto. They make some very good 6spd auto gearboxes for FWD applications as well as RWD applications. They are working on hybrid capability. Also developing a 7spd auto too.

http://www.geely.com/general/dsi_product_en.html

[jpd80]

Imagine the high drama if Falcon had stayed with DSI and their 6-speed auto was now acting up....