Yang Ming announces restructuring

Yang Ming announces restructuring Yang Ming (America) Corp., the general agent in North and South America of Taiwan-based ocean common carrier Yangming Marine Transport Corp., said Tuesday it would consolidate and restructure its North American offices.
   The company said its U.S. operations, which have been distributed among several regional offices, will be consolidated into fewer strategically located regional service centers in order to better service customers.
   The Houston Service Support Center will be expanded to absorb more corporate functions and become the Business Support Center for Yang Ming in North America.
   The company said Houston’s location in the Central time zone will enhance its ability to efficiently service customers located on both coasts and in between.
   The Atlanta service center will provide a presence closer to an important Southeast customer base, and the Chicago office will also grow.
   A small corporate presence will remain in Jersey City, N.J.
   “In a more challenging environment it makes sense to take advantage of the efficiencies we can gain by consolidating and restructuring our regional offices and working processes,” said Spring C.C. Wu, president and chief executive officer of Yang Ming (America) Corp.
   The company said it would reduce its total workforce while adding some new jobs in Atlanta, Houston and Chicago. It is offering relocation package for employees who wish to apply for jobs in these regional service centers. Affected employees who do not relocate will be eligible for a package of benefits, including severance pay, medical insurance continuation and professional outplacement assistance.
   “We’re doing our best to minimize the effect on Yang Ming employees,” Wu said. “We hope that many will be able to continue their careers with Yang Ming.”
   The consolidation and restructure will start immediately and is to be fully implemented by mid May 2009. ' Chris Dupin