I've worked at Thales Crawley for over two decades and have seen a lot of change, but nothing compares to the decline in morale and direction we've experienced over the past two years. Since the new Head of Planning for the Crawley site took over a couple of years ago, it's been painfully clear there’s no coherent strategy or long-term vision. We’ve been asked countless times to scribble down our ideas on post-it notes, only for those suggestions to disappear into a black hole. No feedback, no follow-up, no results. It’s performative, not proactive.
The Oracle B1 ERP system was outdated when it was first implemented in 2001, and it’s only got worse. It’s clunky, unreliable, and down more often than not. The system creates endless repetitive admin tasks that could easily be automated if management would listen to those on the ground who actually use it. But suggestions from the workforce are routinely ignored.
Even more frustrating is the way new IT-driven planning tools and systems are introduced. Employees in the planning team – the people who actually use the systems day in and day out – are never consulted when these tools are scoped or designed. Instead, the solutions are devised by IT staff located miles away on another site, with little to no understanding of how the planning function really operates. The result is tools that are impractical, inefficient, and completely disconnected from reality.
What’s most concerning is the tone at the top. At the last town hall, the Head of Industry openly admitted that the upcoming changes to the Crawley site “scare him.” If the person leading the charge has no confidence in the plans, how are we expected to get behind them?
As for Business Improvements – it's a joke. A meaningless box-ticking exercise run by someone who clearly has no idea what they’re doing. There’s no substance, no direction, and no hope of success under the current leadership.
Its also worrying that when the new head of Manufacturing Engineering who has only been with the company a matter of months states that there is little need to improve methods that much as the margins made on the products are huge.
After 20+ years, it's incredibly disappointing to see the company in such disarray. Unless there are serious changes in leadership and approach, I fear for the future of Thales Crawley.
