Les Coffey,
The entire structure and vision of Blue Bird Corporation has changed drastically since 1992. Many of the plants have closed and there was alot of mismanagement under Merrill Lynch and Henlys. Blue Bird fort Valley is the largest and most modernized production facility Blue Bird has. It is over 2,000,000 feet of indoor facilities and is capable of producing every model bus that the company offers. The Walker County plant is small in comparison at only 300,000 square feet. Blue Bird Fort valley (in its heyday) could employ well over 1,200 employees, while the Walker County facility only employs about 400-500. I dont agree that this was a good step, but if a plant had to be shut down it could have happened no other way unless Blue Bird wanted to decrease its production capacity by 4/5. Blue Bird simply could not have transferred its primary production and corporate headquarters into Walker County without spending well over $100 million. This decision would not have been influenced by the Walker county community or government. While the Luce family concentrated on providing jobs, quality vehicles and providing a service for the benefit of people and children, the new management is focused on profits only. Consolidation in this era is the key to profits for a company like this. Its a matter of survival once the heart and soul are gone.
'Blindsided' Blue Bird workers try to figure out what's next
Les Coffey, The entire structure and vision of Blue Bird Corporation has changed drastically since 1992. Many of the plants have closed and there was alot of mismanagement under Merrill Lynch and Henlys. Blue Bird fort Valley is the largest and most modernized production facility Blue Bird has. It is over 2,000,000 feet of indoor facilities and is capable of producing every model bus that the company offers. The Walker County plant is small in comparison at only 300,000 square feet. Blue Bird Fort valley (in its heyday) could employ well over 1,200 employees, while the Walker County facility only employs about 400-500. I dont agree that this was a good step, but if a plant had to be shut down it could have happened no other way unless Blue Bird wanted to decrease its production capacity by 4/5. Blue Bird simply could not have transferred its primary production and corporate headquarters into Walker County without spending well over $100 million. This decision would not have been influenced by the Walker county community or government. While the Luce family concentrated on providing jobs, quality vehicles and providing a service for the benefit of people and children, the new management is focused on profits only. Consolidation in this era is the key to profits for a company like this. Its a matter of survival once the heart and soul are gone.