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LISI 2015
Questions to
How do you look at 2015?
_ The major portion of the European industrial
reorganization plan, initiated in 2012 by LISI
AUTOMOTIVE, was carried out according to
the projected schedule. Such optimization
and redeployment work, whose first results
were visible in 2015, has contributed to the
recovery over time of our European plants,
particularly in France. Only a few challenges
remain on a chassis screw production site.
This plan especially offset the operational
difficulties encountered in the first half year:
some sites have indeed faced under-capacity
problems in heat treatment. The arrival finally
of the worksite at the factory in Dasle (Doubs),
effective since the fourth quarter 2015, should
finally contribute to firming up the division’s
profitability.
What is the outlook for 2016?
_ The level of orders to be delivered at the
beginning of the fiscal year reflects the
rebound recorded by the market in the fourth
quarter 2015. Logistic conditions, sanitized
in 2015, allow for considering an operational
startup without major difficulties. The
uncertainties in Asia, particularly in China,
however, make the growth forecasts uncertain
beyond the first quarter of 2016.
What are your objectives?
_ We will have to capitalize on the industrial
organization efforts undertaken since 2012.
The progress achieved will have to be further
enhanced under the LEAP* plan in order to
sustainably improve our operating profitability
in Europe: three of the four Business Groups
in the division have been strengthened. They
now have real competitive advantages, and
consolidated trade ties with our German
customers as well as with the major OEMs.
We also need to accelerate our international
development, by organizing the gradual rise of
the Mexican site for clipped fasteners, or even
by accompanying the launch of the mechanical
safety components on our Shanghai site.
François Liotard
Chief Executive Officer, LISI AUTOMOTIVE
The uncertainties in Asia, and particularly
in China, however, make the growth forecasts
uncertain beyond the first quarter of 2016.
* LISI Excellence Achievement Program.