Kodak closing Lee Rd. facilit

Rochester Democrat and Chronical via WorldNetDaily ^ | Nov. 12, 2002 | By David Tyler and Richard Mullins

[Tribune7]

"A representative of Kodak called me late this afternoon," Doyle said.

Kodak said some 400 jobs could be affected, Doyle said. He said the company did not provide a timeline of when a shutdown would occur.

"The ironic thing is we had a meeting with the community leadership 10 days ago, and there was no mention of closing an entire unit," Doyle said.

[Tribune7]

Kodak is moving signle-use camera production from New York State to China. The question remains, however, as to whether Chinese laborers will be fired if they complain about sodomy.

[Gorest Gump]

As a former Kodak employee, it is sad to see this once great company continue to self destruct. George Eastman always put his employees first. He was wildly successful. Since Mr. Eastman was shoved aside, many years ago, the company has wallowed in sloth and corruption, resulting in the continuing death spiral of the company.

The management when I worked there was incompetent and allowed product quality and worker productivity to decline rapidly. Most employees regarded their jobs as an entitlement and would do actual work only when they felt like it. When the company finances imploded, they fired employees left and right. The firings were done based on politics. Many good employees, who had challenged bad managers, were fired first. Most of the remaining good ones left on their own. I was fortunate enough to find another position before I was fired. The handwriting was on the wall.

From what I understand of the current management, they are bottom line focused. That's not necessarily bad and is a real improvement over 20 years ago. However, these guys do not know that the innovative employees kept Kodak on top for so many years. Putting short term gain over long term employee good will seems to be a bad idea to me. I think the disposable camera market is mature and in decline. Hopefully this is a sign that Kodak is focusing on digital imaging, which is where the present and future of photography lies.

[Tribune7]

As a former Kodak employee, it is sad to see this once great company continue to self destruct.

That can be said about many American companies. The founder dies/leaves/is forced out and management is taken over by MBAs hightly trained in CYA and taught that political correctness is the highest virtue.

[gcruse]

 However, these guys do not know that the
innovative employees kept Kodak on top for so
many years.

Maybe, but having a monopoly of the American
market for decades had a whole lot to do with it.

[Gorest Gump]

How do you think they got that "monopoly"?

[gcruse]

How do you think they got that "monopoly"?

By being the only ones here.  The antitrust laws
barely made a dent.  But Fuji is giving them a run
for the money.   It's been a while ago, but Kodak
was telling their major retailers that if the retailer
allowed any Fuji products in the store, Kodak would
pull theirs out.  Folks wondered why EK was
afraid to compete.

[Gorest Gump]

When George Eastman started out, photographers made their own plates and developed their own pictures. He "invented" the consumer market for film and pretty much took over the professional market by producing film that was superior to anything the pros were using at the time. So, I disagree that Kodak got a monopoly by being the only ones here.

Fuji kicked Kodak's butt during the 80's by producing a superior quality film. Kodak has pretty much caught up with Fuji. There have been other foreign competitors, such as Agfa, who produce very cheap film. Agfa is not a good quality film, but it is good enough and it is cheap.

[gcruse]

Kodak has pretty much caught up with Fuji.

Certainly not in C-41 negative film.   Fuji films
are consistent generation-to-generation, less
prone to pick up dust, and of superior color
rendering at high speeds.

[Gorest Gump]

I've heard professionals (and serious hobbyists) rave about both Fuji and Kodak. My comment that Kodak has pretty much caught up were based on my very limited discussions with professionals plus my own experience as a bad amateur. Of course, I get more comments than the average person, because when folks hear you are a former Kodaker, they opine profusely about film. Who knows how honest folks are in their opinions.

I used to make some of the stuff, that went into the stuff, that went into the film. So I am far from an expert on film quality. But in my opinion, Kodak consumer films are about the same as Fuji. I have heard comments similar to yours. I used to hear it a lot more in the late 80s and early 90s.

Regardless, the future of photography is digital. Some still say that film is superior, but I can't see that. Then again, I am not an expert.