Applied Materials Reviews in Portland, OR Area

Pros

Ability to take training. Ability to work in a high volume operation and learn business aspects.

Cons

Silo'ed departments, customer satisfaction can take a back seat because of lack of flexiability in process.

Advice to Senior Management

Need to ensure overall direction and message is consistent at all levels and areas - certain KPI's need to a specific measurement at all these levels or you will negate each other's efforts.

Pros

ETEC division paid better than standard AMAT because ETEC's OT and on-call standards were inherited from Perkin-Elmer and AMAT was unable to move the ETEC non-exempts to AMAT salary standards without having a mass exodus of experienced people. Stock options were good when they were not "under water." Kaiser NW medical option was a great benefit! Good separation package at the time.

Cons

Lay-offs lurk at every downturn. Reviews are not based on your actual contribution to the business but rather on how an employee in a particular group fits on a performance curve. In other words, if everybody performs excellent in a group of 10, somebody has to fall into the standard or substandard area because the review is tied to the pay increase.

Advice to Senior Management

Senior management goes after profitable business and consider employees strictly as assets or liabilities. There is no human element to appeal to. Stock-holders do benefit from popular move toward solar.

Pros

Strong Training program. Quality people.

Cons

Disconnect between Sr Mgmt and lower levels. AMAT making cuts in total compensation over last 5 yrs.

Advice to Senior Management

Consider those who got you where you are. What may look like a small compensation decrease to you, means a great difference in the lives of those at the lowest levels.

Pros

Management encouraged ownership and entrepreneurial risks without micro management allows staff to develop their careers based on their core skills and beliefs. Strong company core values that are well understood throughout the company. Good commitment to support management and leadership training and development programs.

Cons

Long hours leading to poor work life balance. Management turnover can lead to reinventing the wheel too often. Limited encouragement for individual contributors can lead to non people management staff in a management role. Lack of discretionary reward options outside of company programs can discourage lower level recognition.

Advice to Senior Management

Get to know your staff more including at a personal level. Encourage mentoring programs and staff face to face engagements. Speed up high level decision making review and approval process.