Walter Aircraft Engines

Hi!

Today we visited Walter Aircraft Engines. Walter is a wholly-owned subsidiary (since July 2008) of GE Aviation, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Electric. This plant is also producing under capacity, but it seemed to be a much different feel than Avia. The manager who gave us the tour (blue shirt in the second picture) is from Ohio and previously held a similar post in Romania. Here are some pictures I took during the tour:



This is the metal as it comes into the factory:

This stores cut metal until the workers need it:

Here are some of the metal-working machines:

These are used to clean and plate the parts:

Here is a disassembled engine (sent in for an overhaul) waiting for new parts:

This is where the engines are reassembled:

This is where they're tested (a prop is attached and the doors are opened):


The most interesting aspects of our visit (in my opinion) were the difference between an acquisition by an Indian company (as in Avia's case) and an acquisition by a U.S. company (GE), and the difference between the Czech Republic and Romania.

While GE sent an American manager over, they didn't use a heavy-handed style with their newly acquired Czech employees. The focus was on the customer and seeking ways to reach common goals within the confines of Czech and GE culture. One example is safety. GE insisted that all employees wear safety glasses and offered to pay for prescription glasses for anyone who wanted them. This is standard in the U.S., but was new for the Czechs and they resisted. GE compromised by identifying areas where safety glasses weren't necessary and these are clearly marked.

Both Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic and Slovakia) and Romania were subject to communist rule post-WWII through the 80's. Czechoslovakia had what is called the Velvet Revolution in 1989. It was called that because things went so smoothly; in fact, no blood was shed as the people were ready, and the government was willing, to end communism. Contrast this with Romania, which had a very violent revolution leading to the public execution of Nicolae Ceauşescu and his wife, Elena. Unfortunately, all the Romanians did was cut off the head of the snake (so to speak), while the rest of the snake remained. By this, I mean that all the government/bureaucratic officials who implemented the communist government were left in place. Our host believes this is why the Czech Republic has progressed so much more quickly than Romania in the last 20 years.

It was an interesting visit and I'm sure Pratt & Whitney (rulers of the market Walter is going after with their new engine) will be taking notice soon.

Thanks,
Matt