Monday, March 24, 2008

Western Digital Makes Cuts In Asia

Lake Forest-based disk drive maker Western Digital said last week that it will be laying off approximately 800 employees -- the majority in Malaysia -- as part of an effort to streamline its operations. WD said that it will eliminate 770 positions in Malaysia, and approximately 30 in San Jose, as part of a move to only supply media and substrate to its own hard drive business. The operating being impacted were part of the firm's acquisition of Komag in 2007. According to WD, the move represents less than 2 percent of the company's total employee count, which numbers approximately 42,500. The firm said the shift will move focus of its Penang, Malaysia facilities to magnetic media, with plating and polishing in Penang being moved to other Malaysia facilities.