(WICHITA, Kan.) — Hundreds of Hawker Beechcraft jobs will stay in Wichita, as the company decides to keep Plant 1 open. It had been previously announced Plant 1 would close in 2011, with those jobs being outsourced to Hawker facilities in Mexico.
The company says Plant 1 is in charge of assembly and fabrication.
The company released a memo to union members Thursday saying it expected to keep Plant 1 open and the work there to stay about the same.
"Assuming aircraft build rates remain at current levels, the overall volume of work performed in Plant I is expected to be maintained while this revised strategy is developed and implemented. HBC manufacturing operations is placing specific emphasis on quality, on time.
In order to reduce lead time, improve response time, and optimize cost, fabrication and assembly operations will be streamlined and balanced between our facilities. Plant I plays a critical role in this strategy," Hawker released in a statement.
