Opnext Reviews

Pros

If you are an executive, good pay and benefits along with a high degree of autonomy and little accountability.

Cons

Very bad relations between the Japan and US business units. The Japanese business units routinely ignore the directives of executive management. The company is in dire financial straits and is not likely to remain an independent company. Employee bonuses are rarely paid out. In addition annual cost of living adjustments are more often than not skipped. The company has bet the farm on the 100 G market that has failed to materialize.

Advice to Senior Management

The board should bring in a new management team. The current business model is simply not working. The company cannot survive with gross margins under 25 percent with R&D cost approaching 20 percent of sales.

Pros

Technology leadership in optical networking gave them the edge in recruiting & retaining key talent. They offer an end-to-end solution from component to line cards, pushing the edge of possibilities in optical networking.

Cons

Lack of strategic vision. Inability to effectively communicate and execute organizational goals. Doesn't hold leaders or individual contributors accountable for performance and promotes incompetent performers to leadership positions.

Advice to Senior Management

Listening to brown nosers will eventually result in what it smells like... Focus on results, not politics and the company could be a market leader again.

Pros

Good vacation policy. Many long term employees.

Cons

Poor and invisible executive management. Employee Bonus paid out only twice in last 10 years. Very limited upward movement in company. Company maybe on the verge of collapse.

Advice to Senior Management

Accept the facts as they are not as you would like them to be. Admit that business as usual is simply not working. Come up with a strategy and communicate it to your employees. Consider making wholesale changes to the executive management team. A new business model is needed.

Pros

It was great and declined, unskillful technical management

Cons

Need a job, poor management technical skills

Advice to Senior Management

Hand on on issues and long term strategy

Pros

Working on cutting edge optical technology is a challenge and a lot of fun. Small company atmosphere makes it easy to learn about many aspects of the business.

Cons

Business model is not good. Margins are bad. Competition is intense. Losing market share. Japan-USA tensions are high and cooperation is almost non-existent, if not hostile.

I don't see this company being one of the winners in the coming optical component consolidation.

Advice to Senior Management

Find a way to make high-performing employees want to stay.
Find a way to differentiate the products from the competition.
Hold sales team accountable for their targets.
Fix the Japan-USA rift or else close down one of the sites.
Do you really need an office in NJ?