Interesting Post on Gilder Message Board.
In light of comments made recently by Kevin Landis of Firsthand Funds, I addressed the following question to JDSU Investor Relations:
QUESTION:
In a recent interview with TECH INVESTOR, Kevin Landis, manager of Firsthand Funds, expressed a lack of confidence in JDS Uniphase's ability to scale up its manufacturing capacity to satisfy demand. As a JDSU stockholder, this is a matter of concern to me. Can you please tell me what steps have been taken, and will be taken, to maximize JDSU's ability to meet the strong customer demand?
ANSWER RECEIVED TODAY FROM BARBARA MAYO OF JDSU:
Mr. Landis is not on our analyst list, and has not attended any of our analyst days in which we host investors at our facilities and provide tours and information about our manufacturing. This is the only way that he could have accurate information on the subject.
Our manufacturing facilities comprise 3.6 million square feet at present. We are successfully implementing a plan to increase our production by 4x in rolling 18-month periods. This program started in the second quarter of fiscal 2000 and remains on target. We are successfully implementing automation for our most labor-intensive areas, as well as outsourcing and improvements to existing processes.
There are analysts who follow our company - and the photonic sector as well - who are knowledgeable about JDSU and its customers and competitors. We are not familiar with Mr. Landis or with his reports.
To the best of my limited knowledge, Mr. Landis is the Manager of Firsthand Funds and not, himself, an analyst. This issue aside, Ms. Mayo’s response about a four-fold production increase over an extended time seems to me clear, concise and encouraging. Hopes this helps those who, like me, were wondering. |
