PGW Says Layoffs Will Eliminate Redundancy; Manufacturing Operations Also Restructured
April 1, 2009

Pittsburgh Glass Works (PGW) issued a statement today regarding this week's layoffs, and attributes the layoffs to several goals, including an elimination of redundancy in the company. (CLICK HERE for related story.)

"These decisions were taken with three objectives in mind: First, to improve efficiency, speed and decision making; to get key management decision makers engaged closer to where the work is being done by flattening the organization with greater spans of control; and finally, to eliminate redundant layers of management, bureaucracy and waste," says James D. Wiggins, chairman and chief executive officer.

Management in the areas of finance, human resources and systems; manufacturing operations and engineering under the company's chief operating officer; and leaders responsible for the company's automotive-OEM, automotive replacement glass (ARG) and services businesses now will report directly to Wiggins.

In addition, the company made several promotions in the course of the organization. Gary Eilers was promoted to vice president and general manager of the company's services business; he will now handle LYNX Services, the Prostars Alliance Network and the GTS/Glaxis operations. Marc Talbert will now serve as vice president and general Manager of PGW's ARG business unit with responsibility for all aftermarket glass operations. Jim Shepherd was appointed vice president and general manager of the company's automotive-OEM business with responsibility for sales, marketing, design, program management and advanced product development.

PGW's separate staff marketing function also was eliminated, and various business unit leaders will now be responsible for the advanced development and marketing of their products and services, according to today's statement.

At the manufacturing level, each of the company's four satellite operations managers will report to the plant manager of the fabrication plant responsible for the majority of product flowing through the satellite to the customer. The company's separate satellite management structure was eliminated.

The automotive replacement glass business also was restructured and PGW has combined the U.S. and Canadian branch operations and Chillicothe operations. Branch managers now will report to regional managers, who in turn will report directly to the vice president and general manager of ARG. Regional and branch managers will be responsible for developing business in their respective regions.

CLICK HERE for the full text of the statement from PGW.

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