what is happening in Camarillo? Is that the old Biosource site?

Any update on Camarillo? How's the moves going?

Lie Technologies

Mine was 3.05% so considering the economy and intrest rates at only 0.5% and its more than inflation, can,t complain.

Also I note this blog has been pretty quiet which is very nice as no one ever says and thing positive on it, its just doom and gloom so perhaps things are looking up a little? We can always live in hope. I am sure some one will find something to moan about soon though.

How was everyone's merit raise this year?

Well that was inappropriate sir.

So quiet... very eerie.

I agree Life's Customers make Life a great company. Employees also make Life a great company. I would like to know which reps have been let go are considered high performers and why. Life has thousands of reps and there is always a degree of turnover (6% in 2009). Without you being specific it would take too long to 'figure it out' if at all. I think you're just trying to make mischief with no facts. You've shown that twice in recent times already. Share with us what you truly know.

Its a "general" post because the sad thing is that it is happening all over in the US territories...Good reps getting thrown under the bus and no one giving a damn...Reps, who instead of kissing someones behind cared more about the customer than the political BS of the company...God forbid we remember who made this company the great company it used to be and could be...the CUSTOMERS!!

Sorry if that is too "general" for you but I think you can figure it out...

"I am trying to figure out the reasoning behind "laying off" some of the top sales performers in the country and the reps who literally dont care about there territories and who go out to their customers when they feel like it or hide from customers who are mean to them are safe and cushy in their jobs. I am also trying to understand keeping certain regional managers who obviously do not know how to do their job and are skating along on their reps achievements, it is very disapointing."

Same as earlier posts. Give us specifics. Your general posts are useless.

I am trying to figure out the reasoning behind "laying off" some of the top sales performers in the country and the reps who literally dont care about there territories and who go out to their customers when they feel like it or hide from customers who are mean to them are safe and cushy in their jobs. I am also trying to understand keeping certain regional managers who obviously do not know how to do their job and are skating along on their reps achievements, it is very disapointing.

Yes, it's me. no need for anonymity.

GE will take care of LIFE in Austin. Oh well, JG and CF will have to dance at XXXCite. Psycho Dave will have to go back to his padded room. No, maybe he'll end up running HR LF will wash cars-that's what he was doing all along.....

User commented about Fredrick is wrong! Things are going downhill fast. No leadership, just dictatorship. Planning is non-existent. Failure is inevitable.

Is that you, Jim H?

I interact quite a bit with the people in Frederick. Things seem to be generally heading in the right direction. The Stem Cell business is growing and taken control of most Cell Culture operations, plans to expand the Distribution center and purchased the former PGC Scientific building to house the new ABI parts repository/Distribution center.

I was on the team that purchased all the land in the Omega center in 2000 when LT had plans to move all of Carlsbad to Frederick. Life still owns all of that land, so I think relocating to Frederick is a good idea, but admit I am slightly biased..

fredcobio

"How are operations over in Fredrick? Will the company gain from moving Biosource to there? More so regarding their manufacturing, I already know most other areas are incompetent."

I guess someone thinks there will be a gain from the move. Interested what areas you think are incompetent and why. Specifics help rather than unsupported general statements.

How are operations over in Fredrick? Will the company gain from moving Biosource to there? More so regarding their manufacturing, I already know most other areas are incompetent.

"Not enough time or resources dedicated" - - really? They dedicated 12 months to the transition, that seems to be enough time for an orderly transition of just about anything.

The last poster is closest to the mark. These guys now recognize integration sins of the past and are dedicating time and people to transfers which were not there years ago. I experienced what they did in 2009 with the integration efforts in US, Asia and Europe. The manufacturing and sales integrations went well and people were treated very professionally. Some problems elsewhere which were recovered but have made the integration team even more focussed on getting this one right especially since it is manufacturing, R&D and business.

"Not enough time or resources dedicated" - - really? They dedicated 12 months to the transition, that seems to be enough time for an orderly transition of just about anything.

Looks like the layoffs in sales are not quite over

GE healthcare offered 13billion USD ~ to aquire LIFE.

Here we go again..

Over 200 layoffs in addition to the employees unable/unwilling to accept a transfer to the East Coast. As usual not enough time or resources are being committed to the move so if you think this business has hit rock bottom you ain't seen nothing yet.

How many people will be laid off in Camarillo?

So how many people are in Camarillo who will be laid off?

Interesting comment indeed...having transitioned form a marginally six-sigma embracing Co. to a fully embracing six-sigma Co. I have witnessed increased shipping delays and manufacturing backorders. Certainly the GE way has done little for GE stock (unless you want to return to the gay ol' 90s when the Welch lore was flying and six-sigma was the be-all-end- all...less we forget that any fool could have made money in the 90s).

The Harvard business review published a great study on how COs managed like GE actually return less to investors over time.

It's no surprise that Camarillo got shut down. They are a wreck. Their planners are horrible, their QA are horrible, assembly is horrible, distribution is horrible. They throw out more products then they sell. I posted a while back that they were closing, maybe 2 months ago and people doubted it.

Also there are chances Life Tech Japan will be shutting down. Not that much really goes on there.

What went wrong in Camarillo recently? When I was there in late 2007 Camarillo had recovered from their initial post integration problems and seemed to be doing well.

I can't believe VBH is still around. No one figured out after all this time that the only thing she is good at is blaming others for her own ineptitude?

"There's one main reason why great people leave great companies."

I think you are confusing LIFE with a great company.

Let's not kid ourselves. There's one main reason why great people leave great companies. Failure of leadership. All roads point to LS on this one.

See below, MA decided to leave. Sounds like he was presented with a good opportunity in his home town and decided to give it a shot.

I disagree with your sentiment. Sure he was a talker... but that's part of leading and in doing so he changed the way we all thought about managing our business. Ask any long-timer that remembers darker days and you'll find unequivocal support for who MA was and the team that he built. Ever see the supply chain video?... stuff like this helped me find ways to sell value, on the ground and in my territory (not to mention getting a good laugh out of seeing him stuck to a bottle of FBS in the -20)!

"Life Updates:

Looks like several long time Invitrogen guys got canned from Carlsbad - global pricing director, etc.. etc.."

Did MA get canned or did he quit? He always seemed to be a bit of a tool, all talk without doing anything. typical senior management at life.

"Is "Advanced Technology and Systems R&D, Genetic Systems" a failign business?
It sounds the newly hired VP Scott Conradson's specialty is:

P&L and/or R&D responsibility with success in both recovering failing business and/or technologies,"

Was AW the former VP?

Camarillo is a wreck. Invitrogen's lack of focus on integrating the business dating back to the original Biosource acquisition has come home to roost. Add in the fact that many of the senior leaders, one in particular (read VBH), fought like idiots to keep the shop independent. It is sad. Many good people are soon to be without a job. But hey, VBH gets to keep hers! Do a walk-by and check out her crocodile tears.

WTF?

Which planet have you been on? No surprises here. Business as usual. But you'll be treated with respect and dignity as they escort you past security and out the doors.

http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/feb/11/jobs-on-the-line-as-life-technolo...

Camarillo closing , move to Frederick, MD. WTF?

Is "Advanced Technology and Systems R&D, Genetic Systems" a failign business?
It sounds the newly hired VP Scott Conradson's specialty is:

"P&L and/or R&D responsibility with success in both recovering failing business and/or technologies,"

"That's sweet they know your name but do they understand anything about the function of the products you or your direct underlings touch?"

Yes for the GMs, product directors and manufacturing management.

Yes/no to executive management. Some know a lot, some know enough, some know a little. Next time you get the chance ask a few questions and share what you learn.

"I'm also impressed that the senior management take so much interest in manufacturing. We see them regularly, they know our names and they do actually listen to us."

That's sweet they know your name but do they understand anything about the function of the products you or your direct underlings touch?

"Looks like several long time Invitrogen guys got canned from Carlsbad - global pricing director"

Get your facts straight... He did not get canned, he left to pursue an opportunity that made sense for his family. I spoke to him on the way out and he had nothing but positive things to say about LIFE. He even told me I should feel proud to work here.

Sad day indeed, a true class act and a huge factor in company performance for many years.

"Way to keep that manufacturing floor/management disconnect!"

Your comment shows how disconnected you are. Most of the people holding management positions in manufacturing including many of the site leads have worked the shop floor or labs. I'm also impressed that the senior management take so much interest in manufacturing. We see them regularly, they know our names and they do actually listen to us. I could complain about many things but not management being disconnected from manufacturing.

the legacy of promoting those who have no understanding of the jobs done by people they manage. Middle management has no clue what the people who actually handle their product are doing.

Come on. GL is a Harvard MBA. The whole belief system is that the talented "cream of the crop" from top business schools, properly trained in the GE way, can administer anything. That's the whole point of "business administration", to administer business without knowing anything about the details of the products being administered. There are established methods, like Six Sigma, LEAN, etc. that simply work, without having to have a deep (or even shallow) understanding of the underlying technology or processes.

BIG LIFE PROBLEM THAT BP WILL HOPEFULLY CHANGE: the legacy of promoting those who have no understanding of the jobs done by people they manage. Middle management has no clue what the people who actually handle their product are doing. If they are working 11 hour days with no breaks, they have no clue. If they are sitting in a corner checking facebook half the day but still meeting their "numbers," they have no clue. If Life would promote people to Management who have actually done the jobs that put product on the shelves, there would be a lot less waste. I guess HR and the good-ol-boys are more concerned with whether someone has an MBA from National University.. or maybe a PhD from 30 years ago and no management or manufacturing experience. Way to keep that manufacturing floor/management disconnect!

"wrong, no more layoffs. AB will dominate IVGN management. We are the best. We have the best people, best facilities and we can only improve IVGN books and work efficiency. Greg should be proud to get our help."

This was an older post.. HILARIOUS. AB had almost 75% layoff of certain forces in multiple areas. The board is Invitrogen majority. And we've had a HUGE round of layoffs in production, R&D, then IT, then management, then sales, HR, etc.. etc..

Life Updates:

Looks like several long time Invitrogen guys got canned from Carlsbad - global pricing director, etc.. etc..

Naming of regions have aligned with AB terms (districts).

ASR teams deploying at high rates, covering broad areas of products
to capture maximum marketshare.

Some very high end benchtop instruments (could be called cheap AB instruments!) are hitting market to corner areas not covered by previous ones.. this coupled with the HUGE SoLiD gains is going to make for an interesting year at Life.

Oh and don't forget 2 more aquisitions early this year/late last of novel technologies for certain focus areas.

I have the feeling another large purchase is coming.. someone that fits into LIFE without the redundancies that AB brought...

Take the job with McDonalds and hope for the deal to fall through.

I heard that LIFE is buying McDonalds! Is this true? Please help as I am considering positions with both companies!

Whomever posted about Pfizer was obviously joking. Life Tech can't afford to buy Pfizer and there would be no reason too, they are completely different companies.

what deal with pfizer? who's buying who? what's your source? I'm currently considering jobs with BOTH companies!

it may or may not be true that Sales took a huge hit, but Management always takes huge hits and they always bogart the doobie.