Dell supremo to visit Limerick plant as concerns over jobs grow

THE head of Dell’s global operations will today visit the company’s Limerick plant amid concerns about the long-term future of the facility, which employs 3,000.

Mike Cannon, a close confidante of Michael Dell, drew up the plan to sell off Dell’s nine plants around the world and outsource manufacturing to cut costs. Dell will then sell and distribute all products supplied by their contract outsource suppliers. The Dell plant in Limerick is understood to be on the sale list.

Mr Cannon during his visit will have discussions with the head of Dell in Ireland, Nicky Hartery, who leaves the company at the end of this month and his successor, Sean Corkery. The outsourcing strategy was initiated by Mr Cannon to cut annual costs by €2 billion. Arch rival Hewlett-Packard has already outsourced their manufacturing operations enabling the company take on Dell on price with less overheads.