Are the h"s in the field that were having the combustion failures back up and running yet ?
17 replies (most recent on top)
No, GE doesn't have a confirmed fix for the problems. We are guessing at this point. Not impressed with our ability to make a logical decision fast.
The H fleet is still having problems. GE engineering is too busy finger pointing blame instead of coming up with a resolution. They plan to spend more money on dumb Tests in Greenville in both the combustion lab and Test bench where they have already spent many millions in each to no avail.
Yes
What date are the early outs done?
How long after the early out offers before the layoff numbers rolled up and trigger pulled? It's been more than two weeks now.
Yeah....no biggie was a rather unintelligent answer
No Biggie? Lol! Lol! Typical GE Cool Aid drinking response. Just tell all the customers dealing with this problem, "No Biggie".
The combustor problem....is the same issue we had several years ago on one of the 7f variants. Really not a biggie....
The infrastructure of the GE gas turbine plant in Greenville, South Carolina is in bad condition. The electrical infrastructure is deteriorating and creating a hazardous work environment. A lot of money has been spent on paint in an effort to make it more presentable to customers but it's basically lipstick on a pig. The facility remains a dump. The cost would be extreme to improve the conditions because they have withheld the needed fund for too many years (bean counters in command). Eventually the realization will come that it's too expensive to repair and preference will be given to other plants now established globally. Although not immediate, the end result will be closure once reality is confirmed by the bean counters.
GE needs more sourcing bean counters running gas turbine manufacturing plants. GE leaders have lost the basics of their mission and purpose.
I was fortunate enough to be one of the ones released from my role in the last GE Power Layoffs. In my new role I'm with a large Power Company working in the power procurement division. LOL! It's amazing how Karma always comes back around. Believe me, everybody knows all about GE's gas turbine failures, quality issues, and difficult customer support issues. You would be a fool to think the H technical issue discussion isn't directly related to layoffs. Coming VERY soon.
Don't worry. The customers know about the technical issues already. Pakistan has been taking to the Saudi Electric people, as they hit us up with pointed questions about Bhikki during their visit last month. Our leaders gave them a bunch of non-answer responses and they did not seem impressed at all. We underlings were told ahead of time not to talk about the problems, so I said nothing like a good little soldier. But don't be naive; they know what's going on.
So far, there is no fix. Some new replacement parts were distributed to replace burned up combustion and AGP parts, but they are of the same design as the ones that didn't endure. Some detuning in the control system may have been done in order to help them limp along. I don't know that a fix will be found before the hammer drops. In recent years, everyone was pushed to take a lot of bold risks, and to push for more power and efficiency, faster and cheaper than ever before. It is very likely that the materials and designs have been driven beyond their capabilities in the name of FastWorks and bragging rights in a book of records. They might be able to salvage the program by derating the HA somewhat, but then we will fail to meet performance guarantees already made.
Power bet the farm on HA, and Vic's 50-in-60 vision for it. At this point, it looks like we've lost that bet.
Be sure to tell Mr. F. that unless he has a rabbit to pull out of his hat to save HA, he can start distributing his resume right along with the rest of us. The leadership may have forgotten to pack his golden parachute for this ride.
Keep the discussion to layoffs guys....if you want to gripe on technical issues go talk to Dave 4-e.
Looks like a real dumb time to be angering GE Field Engineers by laying them off in August and offering positions that can be applied for in FieldCore. Maybe you should pat them on their backs and tell the men and woman how much you appreciate their sacrifices and expertise. There should be a requirement that all GE executives or board members WORK as field engineers for 5 years.
For the most part, no the combustion high dynamic issues are not fixed; especially the HA.02's. stiffeners are being installed on the AFS section, which is nothing more than stop gap. Performance shortfalls are also causing liquidated damage payments; first time I can recall since the 9FA rotor "dynamic" issues in the mid 90's that LD's have been stated in quarterly results to have a material impact on cash generation; beyond other accommodations. Stiffeners on combustion hardware = band aids while RCA is ongoing in combustion test stand coupled with pretty CFD models to show GE is on top of it!!! Until the money runs out. Investors and insurance companies know what is happening; actions by new CEO will be interesting; double down to fix 100% on a system tested with unprecented rigor or "just good to enough". The future of the power gen business with the all in H strategy lies in the balance of how this ends....
Also, how many units have shipped with the same bad design? GE will have to redesign and provide field repairs to these units as well. Not cheap. It will be interesting to see how well GE hides this expense from investors.
I was thinking the same thing. I doubt they are. They were having serious failures in multiple plants.