National Semiconductor Corp is finding it a much harder grind than it had hoped to get the company back on an even keel, and yesterday announced lay-offs of another 2,000 people from its 32,000-strong workforce and its intention to close two plants. It is getting out of the high-speed static RAM business and will close one fabrication line at its Puyallup, Washington facility and is also closing its Tucson, Arizona military-product assembly and test facility, transferring the work to other locations. It will also restructure its ASIC business. THis will all cost a charge of some $140m to the first quarter figures to the end of the week – and operating results will be below expectations as well. It is also cutting to four divisions from six – VLSI, Analogue, Military/Aerospace and a new Standard Products Division.
