So sad. So sad indeed. You seem heartless NOT caring about these people, people going through an experience you can relate to first hand. You can have your quality of life. I sure hope you can buy groceries and pay your bills with your so called quality of life.

Growth is not what is wrong with this city, this state, you are good sir.

It wasn’t easy and took some sacrifice but now I’m in a field that is more stable and more satisfying. Hopefully these same opportunities will be made available to the current group. The tech industry is so unstable these days, and probably always will be. The money was good, but I wouldn’t go back now.

Unfortunately, Micron is barely competent enough to get computer chips out the door. They will never make the transition that IBM has made. And I doubt they will transition into nanotech, either, which would seem to be one field they might have an outside shot at.

Their management simply lacks the vision to truly innovate. And their fontline engineers that are proven innovators at what they do have no say in the matter.

I think Micron dabbled briefly with diversification of products and RIFD technology when they dumped Micron Communications to better concentrate on commodity products.

Without a significant reinvention of Micron, they are only delaying the inevitable. There are many market forces pulling Micron out of Boise, here are two:

#1) RAM has become a commodity, and commodities are manufactured where labor is cheap. While Boise is cheap compared to Silicon Valley, we are not cheap when compared to the Asian countries which staff Micron’s competition.

#2) Economic Clusters: Economic clusters are created where major OEM manufacturers and their suppliers co-locate. Creating over time a geographical location with an economical advantage for that product or service. 75% of the OEM products that use Micron’s products are manuactured in Asia. Micron’s competitors that have located themselves adjacent to the OEM’s have an advantage by operating within that cluster.

IBM has had its ups and down but has survived the comoditization of once high tech specialty products. IBM shifted from the world of low profit components to higher profit OEM final goods. As the OEM for computers became a crowded field, IBM shifted to a server and services based firm. IBM now enjoys profitbale supply chain enhamcenet services and has a diverse portfolio of products and services. I am not an IBM stock holder or employee, but it is a good example of a large company who has faced the same challenges as Micron, yet survived by reinventing itself and transforming to a learning organization.

Tips for Micron:

1) We appreciatte your commitement to Boise, your company performance and stock price is indicative of your commitment to keep jobs in Boise, when the winds were blowing to Asia many years ago.

2) Diversify your products through acqusitions that are up or down the supply chain.

3) Leverage partnerships with Texas Instruments and other firms in RFID technology that will replace barcodes and many other similar technology. Focus on nano-technology for memory capabilities in RFID chips, so this technology can do more than broadcast identity, but add value to the product packaging.

4) Become experts on bringing new technology to market and sell services assisting other companies bringing their innovative products to market. This not only provides a services based revenue, but positions Micron to take advanatge of new technology prior to their competitors. As technology continues to grow at light speed, it will become more and more critical that companies get products to market fast. Revamp existing manufactuing spaces for a modular style for re-tooling with minimal investment to produce new products for your clients, and drop the manufacturing as the new technology approachs maturity or commodity stage.

Most new technlogies are manufactured in the US, but as the product gains a following manufacturing is outsourced to lower cost nations. Position Micron as the first manufacturer of new technology and assist with bringing it to market, then quickly exit.

For what it is worth, there are my thoughts.

Now correct me if I am wrong, I understand that the senior leadership in the past (Not sure about current) have taken pay cuts (in the case of Mr. Appleton a complete cut) but continued to receive stock options that far exceeded what they received or would have received in pay.

My thinking is that if you run a publicly traded company and it continues to lose money for its investors come to the self-realization that maybe you can’t do the job and maybe it’s time to find greener pastures. Yes, you may be relatively young in the corporate head honcho world but, if you can’t recognize that you are failing then it may be no wownder you and your team can’t turn around and make profitable again an otherwise great company.

Just a thought

I think you may have commented under the wrong story, but if you did intend indeed to comment under the Micron story my following thoughts are just…

Your seeming glee of people in this valley losing jobs, your and my neighbors and friends is very upsetting and despicable. Please do not take joy from the pain and suffering that many families throughout the Treasure Valley are now in the midst of or are fearful everyday they go into work could be their last. Get over yourself and start caring about your neighbors! How would you feel at the thought of losing a job, your insurance, being able to take care of your family?

Remember karma is a bitch.

p.s. Dave, if Robert did indeed comment under the wwrong article, I apologize for my rant.

EDITOR NOTE–We can only wait for Robert to tell us. If he was aiming for the P&Z story, he needs to go to the bottom of the posting to comment. I will fix and delete this comment if that is the case.