Remington: Partial summer shutdown at their plants

[Slater]

Wasn't aware that this was a thing at Remington:

"Nearly 700 workers at two Remington Arms factories will be on a forced vacation this summer, mostly without pay, as the company shuts down several manufacturing lines for two months. The summer shutdown is occurring at the Ilion and Huntsville plants, leaving many employees out of work until early August. Remington has been struggling in recent years after emerging from bankruptcy and operating in a soft firearms manufacturing market. However, the moves occur at a time when new products have been released and build quality has subjectively improved in once tried-and-true product lines such as Marlin."


https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2019/06/17/remington-summer-shutdown/

 

[P5 Guy]

It is not unusual for a manufacturing plant to shut down for maintenance and or upgrades, done in the summer or over Christmas/New Years.

 

[Speedo66]

The workers are eligible for unemployment benefits. I'm sure the next presidential election will get things going strongly again.

You're no doubt going to be hearing a lot of promises to impose restrictions or outright ban guns from several candidates. Guess what that will do to the marketplace? Start stocking up, especially ammo, right now.

 

[Jim Watson]

It is unusual when they have to give back incentives and subsidies to the state when they don't meet claims for employment.

 

[22-rimfire]

It is unusual when they have to give back incentives and subsidies to the state when they don't meet claims for employment.

Is this true at the Huntsville plant?

 

[Tommygunn]

This is bad news here in North Alabama. The Remington facility made an agreement with the Huntsville govt. regarding a tax break; they had to hire a certain number of people by a certain date or there'd be a "clawback" of $$$$$$.
I'm not certain what the status is of this right now, but obviously it is severely endangered and a real hurt for Remington and the workers right down the road.

It may be true that there are shutdowns for service in some gun industries, but I think here Remington must accept some responsibility for the situation. Downsize, reorganize, enact some serious Q.C. methods and processes.
There cannot be a repeat of the R51 handgun fiasco. Drunk gorillas using broken chisels to carve out the interiors of semiautos simply does not cut it. Short-chambering them is also a bad thing, and sights must be securely fixed to the weapons!!!!
The Remington 870 shotgun is an old design. I have a 20 gauge that was a retirement gift to my father from 1987 that is very well made. I understand modern ones have suffered by comparison. NO EXCUSE!!!!
This is an old company ---- a "heritage company." It would be tragic if it failed!
They need to get their game together!

 

[Tommygunn]

Is this true at the Huntsville plant?

YES!!

 

[Locochief]

They renegotiated at Huntsville but also lost some of the incentives.

https://huntsvillebusinessjournal.com/news/2019/06/03/remington-furloughs-200-huntsville-workers/

 

[Hookeye]

Those not getting paid over shutdown...........are they temps?
Or probates not with a full yr in?
Does Big Green have a union and if so, are they running a two tier system?

Not uncommon for summer shutdown in manufacturing.

At GM it sucked as I had to burn my vac time then, and not in deer season.
Think that happened once, worked all the other times.
My jobs were not entirely tied to production.

 

[Slamfire]

There cannot be a repeat of the R51 handgun fiasco. Drunk gorillas using broken chisels to carve out the interiors of semiautos simply does not cut it. Short-chambering them is also a bad thing, and sights must be securely fixed to the weapons!!!!

Based on talks who visited the Huntsville plant, everything is automated till final assembly. The "twenty somethings" at the end of the production do not have files and are not expected to do anything other than screw parts together. Therefore, they don't have the ability to adjust a mis timed barrel.

And, I talked with a guy who worked there, and it is apparent they have outsourced their QC to their vendors. The comment made to me, about off axis sights, was that the girls in shipping are supposed to notice that. Really? I had a job filling boxes, and I was graded on how many boxes I filled, not on mechanical inspection.

A Range Master I know, his Rem 700 cracked a lug last year. He bought, in Sept 2015, a new Rem 700 action in 243 Win. (Originally I thought it was 260 Rem, last I saw him he said 243 Win, but it is one of those cartridges). He had the thing customized with new bolt handle, tactical stock, etc. He might have been through one barrel. But, around round 4000 "the gun blew up". The gunsmith who took it apart found one bolt lug offset. That increased the case protrusion and that caused a case sidewall to rupture. Mike Walker's three rings of protection saved the Range Master's face. That lug was sectioned by the Gunsmith, and according to Bud, who was called over to "take a look at this!", Bud said the steel looked like it was full of bubbles. Remington refused to help Bud because of all his modifications, but nothing Bud did changed the metallurgy of the rifle. The action was defective the day it came off the production line.

And what that tells me, is Remington has poor to non existent Subcontractor controls. Subcontractors must not be allowed to ship substandard material to your plant. But, if you have outsourced your QC to the vendor, and you can't tell the difference between good and bad, you should not be surprised when they ship you the stuff that the Contractor with in-house QC refused to accept.

Kobe Steel admits data fraud went on nearly five decades, CEO to quit

Kobe Steel Scandal Goes Nuclear: Company Faked Data For Decades, Had A "Fraud Manual"

Great quote from this article

As for all those who are considering providing liquidity to this fraud of a company, good luck with lying to yourselves that you will ever see any of that money back.

 

[jmr40]

Remington has been circling the drain for years. The 700 has always been over rated and they haven't introduced anything new worth buying since the 870 and 1100 shotguns. I gave up on them years ago and moved on. Time for everyone else to do the same.

 

[rodinal220]

They need to restore QC as their #1 priority. Its pretty well known for well over a decade that Big Greens QC has slipped. They need to build quality products and take care of their customers.

 

[Tommygunn]

Based on talks who visited the Huntsville plant, everything is automated till final assembly. The "twenty somethings" at the end of the production do not have files and are not expected to do anything other than screw parts together. Therefore, they don't have the ability to adjust a mis timed barrel.

And, I talked with a guy who worked there, and it is apparent they have outsourced their QC to their vendors. The comment made to me, about off axis sights, was that the girls in shipping are supposed to notice that. Really? I had a job filling boxes, and I was graded on how many boxes I filled, not on mechanical inspection.

A Range Master I know, his Rem 700 cracked a lug last year. He bought, in Sept 2015, a new Rem 700 action in 243 Win. (Originally I thought it was 260 Rem, last I saw him he said 243 Win, but it is one of those cartridges). He had the thing customized with new bolt handle, tactical stock, etc. He might have been through one barrel. But, around round 4000 "the gun blew up". The gunsmith who took it apart found one bolt lug offset. That increased the case protrusion and that caused a case sidewall to rupture. Mike Walker's three rings of protection saved the Range Master's face. That lug was sectioned by the Gunsmith, and according to Bud, who was called over to "take a look at this!", Bud said the steel looked like it was full of bubbles. Remington refused to help Bud because of all his modifications, but nothing Bud did changed the metallurgy of the rifle. The action was defective the day it came off the production line.

And what that tells me, is Remington has poor to non existent Subcontractor controls. Subcontractors must not be allowed to ship substandard material to your plant. But, if you have outsourced your QC to the vendor, and you can't tell the difference between good and bad, you should not be surprised when they ship you the stuff that the Contractor with in-house QC refused to accept.

Kobe Steel admits data fraud went on nearly five decades, CEO to quit

Kobe Steel Scandal Goes Nuclear: Company Faked Data For Decades, Had A "Fraud Manual"

Great quote from this article

Remington may well be on its "last legs." Geeeesh .... Almost wish I'd kept quiet and not found this out .....

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I would not touch a new Remington with a ten foot pole.

 

[dh1633pm]

Shot my 700 today. See attached. My friend who works at "The Arms" as it is know locally is out of work for a while. A pain for him since he was going to take vacation before the layoff which is what it really is. He had to cancel and wait for the layoff (forced vacation).

300 WM, Milspec Gen II four shots at 100 yards. So we know Remington can still do well when they want to. I think most of their issues are self inflicted. Sorry to hear that so many are temporarily out of work. The area is already in perpetual poverty and recession. Just adds to the problem.

 

[Mullo98]

Hopefully this will make em care about making a decent gun like they were known for.

 

[Jeb Stuart]

Bad Quality Control is common now with a lot of the mass produced firearms. I have heard similar stories About Ruger and others. I lot of this bashing is most likely blown out of proportion which is common on the internet. I love it when a internet poster post about a guy he knew that had a problem. So therefore all are the same. I have no dog in this fight, do not own a Remington. Heck, the Sig bashing was going on for a long time. A lot of people posting about things they really know nothing about or the same disgrunted employees. I wish Remington all the luck in the world. Sometimes, I think the Internet is worse than CNN.

 

[Sistema1927]

Did a quick check, and out of the more than 70 firearms I currently own, exactly one is a Remington, and it is a 721 made in 1950.

I also have three Marlins, but they are all JM guns, pre-Remington purchase.

There was a day when the percentage of Remington guns would have been higher, but no more.

 

[Slamfire]

I lot of this bashing is most likely blown out of proportion which is common on the internet.

Before the internet the public did not have a voice. If something was wrong or defective, it certainly did not get into an in print publication. The inprint guys represent industry interests not the public interest. However, now we have a voice.

And I am going to say, I don't care if someone thinks reporting a defective firearm is "blown out of proportion". Defective firearms, particularly structurally defective firearms, should not leave the factory and make their way into the hands of the public. And something that is structurally defective, something that was defective the moment the lugs were cut from bar stock, should never had made it into a higher assembly and into final assembly as a firearm which then blows up in the user's face. I consider a structurally deficient firearm that blows up in the user's face to be totally unacceptable. And, I believe there are more out there but I have not heard of a M700 recall. And, based on Remington's response to ignore their responsibility in correcting the situation, I consider that to be totally unacceptable.

 

[entropy]

I would not touch a new Remington with a ten foot pole.

I just bought a brand new 1100 Competition Synthetic, and the quality is right up with all the 1100's and 870's over the years, actually better than the last two 870's I owned. I don't understand why they don't ship the IM Pro-Bore choke with it, but that's really about the worst thing I can say about it. Well, I was expecting a green plastic case instead of the cardboard one. You spend $1100 on a gun.....
I have been coaching a kid that shoots with a Remington 887, their attempt at a Benelli Nova, and I will say that thing, besides being ugly, gave the kid fits all season long. The stock loosened up, and it takes a 3/8" socket, not a screwdriver. (Naturally, I had a stock screwdriver in my Armorer bag, but not sockets, who thinks sockets for working on guns? ) It would jam with steel based shells, but he was hitting most of what he shot at with it.
The pistols (since the R51 fiasco) are pretty good, I am currently considering the double-stack 9mm R1 Commander, but I do want hands on before I commit to one.
You couldn't give me a current production M700.

 

[P5 Guy]

I sold my only two Remingtons, they were 1943 M1903A3s. Fine rifles very reliable and accurate.

 

[Jeb Stuart]

Before the internet the public did not have a voice. If something was wrong or defective, it certainly did not get into an in print publication. The inprint guys represent industry interests not the public interest. However, now we have a voice.

And I am going to say, I don't care if someone thinks reporting a defective firearm is "blown out of proportion". Defective firearms, particularly structurally defective firearms, should not leave the factory and make their way into the hands of the public. And something that is structurally defective, something that was defective the moment the lugs were cut from bar stock, should never had made it into a higher assembly and into final assembly as a firearm which then blows up in the user's face. I consider a structurally deficient firearm that blows up in the user's face to be totally unacceptable. And, I believe there are more out there but I have not heard of a M700 recall. And, based on Remington's response to ignore their responsibility in correcting the situation, I consider that to be totally unacceptable.

One thing I have leaned, especially about internet bashers, is that there are always two sides to a story. A lot of hearsay, a lot of unverified second party comments etc. No pictures, no evidence just unsubstantiated rhetoric. I think flags went up when you said that "Remington response to ignore their Responsibility in correcting the situation". I find this extremely hard to believe.
How many other owners are having the same problem or have had the gun do the same thing? Sorry, but something does not pass the smell test.

And sadly once a comment is made regardless if true or not, the next day a million internet posters will be parroting the unsubstantiated remark to millions of others as if they know all about this and now have become experts on the Remington quality control. It is just the way the internet works. We have seen it a million times.

I am not saying you are lying and I believe that you are passionate in your post. Just think that we need to hear from both sides.

 

[dh1633pm]

I am texting my friend right now. He is on the floor of the plant at The Arms in Ilion. During the summer shutdown, he got chosen to stay. About 200 Marlin Workers are working hard making their new models. I was asking him if he was still on "vacation" (layed off), so we could go shooting. Last I heard he was. But alas he is working on new Marlins. Seems they are selling like hot cakes.

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/c...o-furlough-about-500-workers-over-the-summer-

 

[Jeb Stuart]

It feels like maybe there is a turn in the sales of firearms in general. For sure things get slow. Sometimes that is a good thing. My indoor ranges do not have the overcrowded nutjobs like usual. My LGS told me things get really slow starting around tax return time. Summer is always slow. In anything in life, you cannot always ride the crest of the wave. Stock markets go up and down, your body even goes through ups and downs. Along with your mind. Good days, bad days. Just the way life is.

 

[Jeb Stuart]

I am texting my friend right now. He is on the floor of the plant at The Arms in Ilion. During the summer shutdown, he got chosen to stay. About 200 Marlin Workers are working hard making their new models. I was asking him if he was still on "vacation" (layed off), so we could go shooting. Last I heard he was. But alas he is working on new Marlins. Seems they are selling like hot cakes.

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/c...o-furlough-about-500-workers-over-the-summer-

Also ask him if they have peak times when they get over time.