Fresh from Friday’s news that it plans to axe one hundred jobs, Toshiba Computer Corp has announced plans for a radical company- wide shake-up beginning this April, reorganizing its fifteen business units into eight autonomous companies, in a bid to help the electronics giant – the number one portable PC vendor – better compete at an international level. Speaking at a press reception in Tokyo Friday night, the company’s president and CEO, Taizo Nishimuro, said the new units – Information and Industrial Systems & Services Co; Digital Media Equipment & Services Co; Power Systems & Services Co; Semiconductors Co; Display Devices and Components Co; Medical Systems Co; Home Appliances Co and Elevator and Building Systems Co – would operate under one corporate umbrella, each managing its own books with performance to be measured by cash flow. He said the primary goal of the restructuring was to increase international competitiveness, adding that the company will continue to leverage its number one laptop PC vendor position to expand into new product areas. He added that he wanted more of the divisions to attain the number spot in their respective markets. More details are expected to emerge this week.
