Posted: Tue, Jan 23, 2001, 11:50 PM ET (0450 GMT)
Boeing announced late Monday a plan to reorganize its Delta expendable launch vehicle line, consolidating separate programs for the Delta 2, 3, and 4 into a single organization. Dan Collins, who had been vice president of the Delta 4 program, was named the leader of the new organization. The company said the move was prompted by previous plans to consolidate Delta manufacturing at facilities in Alabama and Colorado and should streamline overall management of the three booster programs. Up to 500 jobs will be cut by the consolidation, although company officials said few would be laid off since they would instead be transferred to other programs. In an unrelated move, Boeing also announced Monday it was cutting production of its Delta 2 booster at a Southern California plant. The Los Angeles Times reported Boeing was shifting production from three shifts a day to one because of extremely high electricity costs. The company gave no word on when -- or if -- it will resume full production at that plant.

Related Links:

•  Boeing press release
•  LA Times article