GDC reorganizes for new millennium

General DataComm Industries Inc., a Middlebury, Conn.-based vendor known primarily for asynchronous transfer mode products, will begin a companywide initiative that includes broad restructuring, refocusing moves and layoffs.

Millennium 30 will create two new divisions within the company-broadband systems and network access.

"We felt the need to focus on the distinct aspects of our market sectors, and this led us to a divisional concept," said Ross Belson, GDC president and chief operating officer.

Engineering, marketing and sales groups, which were previously separated by product groups, will now be integrated into the new divisions. This will mean shorter introduction cycles for new products, Belson said. "For existing products, expect to see a faster response time that should have occurred earlier."

GDC will reduce its work force by about 14%, or 200 employees.

GDC has a reputation for good products and good engineers, said LaDan Metchian, a senior analyst with International Data Corp. But it hasn't done as well recently as competitors Nortel Networks or Cisco Systems. The changes mean people will take ownership of their market segments, giving them more incentive to create better business propositions, she added.