Update: Role of Tele Atlas Lebanon Facility Changes; 120 Layoffs Expected
Update 4/27/09: I got an official statement from Tele Atlas which puts the numbers in context.
This from a Tele Atlas spokesperson:
On Thursday last week, [April 16] a meeting with employees was held where it was announced that as part of Tele Atlas’ map production strategy, the main role of Lebanon is evolving into a Global Pilot Facility where new processes and tools will be validated and matured. This is a unique position within the company that we expect will further foster innovation. Tele Atlas’ map production strategy focuses on optimizing our production processes and using the latest tools and technologies to create fresher maps faster.
These layoffs will not occur in the immediate term, however over the course of the next seven months, there will approximately 140 job reductions in North America (approximately 120 of which will be in New Hampshire). By communicating these changes to our employees now, our goal is to provide as much advance notice and information as possible to our employees about this transition and also about the support and resources available to during this transition. Instead of traditional map editing, the Lebanon facility will pilot and test new technologies and tools that ensure our global production processes are fully optimized. This is a unique position within the company that we expect will foster innovation. Additionally, company roles, including sales, marketing and communications, engineering, and support departments such as IT, human resources, legal and finance will continue to operate in Lebanon....
There are currently approximately 450 employees in Lebanon, New Hampshire…
—- original post 4/20/09——
Last Thursday Tele Atlas met with employees to announce that the role of the Lebanon office will change; it will be a pilot facility that tests tools and technologies used worldwide in map production. Employees also learned the company expected to lay off about 140 employees in North America with 120 coming from Lebanon. Reports indicate that no layoffs have yet occurred, so this may be an “update” to news of layoffs that appeared in December.
The change in focus for the facility is quite a change. It suggests to me that much of the map updating, done at some times by three shifts a day, may be done elsewhere.
- WMUR-TV
