Company.AsiaSalary.com_{Beta 1.0}

Yes. I heard flextronics is the main component manufacturer for Sony Ericsson hand phone. Last time, I know a friend worked in Flextronics Malacca. His feedback is very poor. The management really like china-man style. Unfortunately, they close down that branch and relocate to PTP Johor.

Anyway, there are plenty of job opening across all the factories in Malaysia. One of it is Shah Alam, Selangor. I used to apply their job but I rejected it after reading the feedback fromthe forumer @ here.

Let me summary the feedback as:
1. 5 days works/week
2. Stressful if work in Production line
3. High staff turnover rate
4. EPF from co : 17 %
5. Medical : Hospitalization, covers spouse and kids, even covers for new births

The factory in Shah Alam design and manufacture the Sony Ericssons hp.
I always thought of the company as the best. But i know the truth when i
worked there for 2 years. I was the Production Section Head. In production
line, you must withstand pressure. But at Flextronics, you have to withstand
“unnecessary pressure”. I have an experience of more than 11 years in
production. I am immuned to being grilled, cursed, denounced, yelled, back
stabbed, long hours and all other things you can imagine. But at Flextronics,
you times those by 10. On paper, my working hours is 8-5, 5 day per week.
The truth is, i start at 7am, and the earliest i can go home is at 9pm. Everyday,
Monday to Saturday. And since the turnover is very bad, Sunday is also a working
day for me. So can you withstand this? To be cursed/yelled/scold for my fault is ok.
But if for things that is beyond my responsibilities, i just cannot stand it. The pay is
better than other co. But what is money when there is no life after work. I suffered for
2 years, and i am always willing to let others know the truth about this company working
environment.

Folks, Flextronics is gearing itself to be the best EMS company in the world. While I cannot agree that the management is “Chinaman stle”, I will agree that life is stressful when hiccups occur, especially on production. I would like to point out a few points:~

1. 5 days works/week (Saturday/Sunday you get paid high OT rate)
2. Stressful if work in Production line (only if you fail to deliver the output without due cause. This is the most critical aspect of this industry)
3. High staff turnover rate (The expansion is geared towards PTP which causes the hiring binge)
4. EPF from co : 17 % (It is closer to 11-12%. Old rate remnants from Ericsson days)
5. Medical : Hospitalization, covers spouse and kids, even covers for new births (Mgt gives baby hampers!)
6. OT pay if you stay after working hours to “catch up” on work.

Anewman, I feel your pain but perhaps are you ranting because you were not given due recognition by your management? So, if Flex Mgt is so bad, what chance do the others working at real local Chinaman companies fare? Different sites operate differently depending on the main customer they are serving. Also, Flex corporate is aligning all the sites to have a common vision. It may just be that your Boss has low EQ which in case, learning to manage and understand your Boss will enable yourself to appreciate your situation better. If you are really being scolded for areas outside your job scope, point it out (gently) and you’d be surprised how easily you can defuse all the tension. Unfortunately, I too have seen my fare share of “passing the buck”.

Let’s me review on it’s subsidary also, which is called Vista Point Technology(VPT). I have been worked that for a while after I quite my first company. I can tell everyone this company is below the average, so if you want to work that please think carefully. But it is no problem if you want to join their R&D.

I think everyone know VPT is camera module and LCD manufacturing. I was involving in camera module group as a test engineer. If you ask me how is the working environment that, I would say “Kilang Ketchup.” If you know the ketchup factory you should know how the environment that, I mean it is is very messy when you see their working environment.

I remember the first time I came to report to work, I straight away go to the production line to solve the tough problem without any training. My first company was a Jepan company, the environment that was so stressful but at least I had attended the training. Also the company organization is systematic, everything just refer to document, easy to solve problem. But this company, they do have proper document, everything depend on senior or the previous employee. Some senior really busy, he can guide the new employee on work. Some even bad don’t teach you on the problem, and keep on bully you.

I am fine with that. But the most trouble thing is, I am test engineer, I duel more on quality control. Every time meeting, always got a lot of issue, i.e. blemish on camera module, power on fail, lens issue. No wonder because of the low yield, the shipment keep on delay and delay. We test engineer, QA, even Failure analysis engineer show the report and argue product engineer and process engineer need to improve the process. I never see them take action to improve, and they keep on blame us a test program. I agree some time the test program not robust enough, but isn’t it the Failure report was written by failure analysis engineer show everything? If you never improve your process, what are you expect for the test program, you even don’t pass the first process!

Do you think manager can solve this problem? No, these entire managers are very stupid and childish. Give those stupid suggestions and I really doubt were they studying engineering course before? Were they an engineer before? Also they like to give last minute job, for example, the customer has scheduled with us they will come to our factory for an audit. They knew this early, but they wait until tomorrow is customer audit then only tell us need to prepare a lot of document like GR&R, work instruction and test program documents. Worst was even after our working hour, just only told you. Hence we all stayed back to work it until midnight. If you don’t prepare is fine, as long as you know how to answer the customer question, but you will lose your job. Some of manager actually know the mistake made by product engineer, but they keep on protect them and ask our test engineering team to resolve this problem. I am very mad and show them the report we did, the result we showed already a prove, even come out with failure analysis report with FA engineer team, what are you expecting? I am expecting my team leader to protect us, but it was dream actually, this team leader stand on manager side and shoot us. I never see the team leader never protect their member and help the enemy to fight us.

OK, just let you know my job scope. After you read about my job scope, please don’t laugh. You know as a test engineer, of course more on the test program, test program debugging, collecting the test data and publish the report. But in VPT, that is different, a test engineer actually just clean the tester, sometime we need to do FA job for example use X-ray to diagnose the unit whether got blemish material inside, sometime we even overlap the process engineer job. If you ask one test engineer about test program, what test they are doing, I am sure they will say “I don’t know”. You won’t surprise some of senior test engineer, even the team leader does not know the test program, some even don’t know what the tests are doing. So you won’t expect them know about the labview design software. I get use to it work from early morning 7am, and come back 11pm everyday. From 5 days working basic become to 7days working basic. Just let you know even weekend, Sunday or public holiday also my working day. If you think this is normal for everyway, yes I agree, but you don’t know one day if you work on shift or 24 hours for a few days, what will you feel? I have this experience man!

Well, many people though I work very hard, claim a lot of OT, so should have higher salary. And if you think this is USA Company so the benefit should be better than Japanese company. Sorry, I would say, don’t dream too much, it is even worst than Japanese company. At least my first company paid me salary better than them. They give me the salary lower than first company, the OT rate only RM5 per hour compare to my first company was RM10 per hour. I go back at 8pm every day when I worked in first company, but worked in VPT I can say 11pm consider early for me. I still have my weekend life when worked in first company but no weekend life in VPT. Although I have 24X7 on call in first company but not always happen. In VPT, I even need to come back to factory during midnight or early morning 3am. My handphone always ring when I was VPT.

If you think Sony Ericsson also a customer of VPT, so I can get cheaper phone or free phone. Sorry la, no such thing on staff price or free gift. However, you can take some camera module which is the bad unit, and if you know how to replace to you handphone should be better.

I am sure after you read my story, for those who want to work in VPT. Please think twice, unless you can stand on this pressure.

In Flextronics Shah Alam, the thing that will affect anybody’s view on the company would be the position you’re(or were) in. As others have commented, work in Production is really stressful and lack of personal time.
On the contrary, I’m one of the engineers and I can say that the working environment in Flextronics is not so bad; even much better compared to other local and Japanese company I’ve worked with before.
Some advantages :
a) As mention in previous posts.
b) Dental Benefit
c) Annual bonus 2x(Performance and 13th Month)
d) High increment (around 8% to 10% average)
e) Flexible working hours. Although officially the office hours are 8.30 to 5.30, staff can have flexibility with approval from their superior. No salary deduction for timeloss or absent.
d) Meal Allowance RM30 per month.
e) No dress code. My daily attire is t-shirt and jeans.
f) Possibility of overseas assignment. I’ve been to 3 countries already.
g) Complimentary handphone for project team member. I’ve received 6 phones so far.
h) RM2500 if your wife gave birth or RM4500 if its a Caeser.
i) Much more

Disadvantages:
a) High turnover rate. This is normal for CM.
b) No fixed training plan for new staff unlike Jap comp.
c) Low visibility in terms of project. Less stable.

For me, the thing I like most about Flextronics Shah Alam is the freedom. As long as you finish you job, your boss won’t bother with anything else. Compared to few companies where you need to ‘act’ like you’re working even if you have nothing to do.

Alright, let me add to the comparison against other sites in the same country..

a) As mention in previous posts.
b) Dental Benefit -Qwerty: RM100 annually
c) Annual bonus 2x(Performance and 13th Month)-Qwerty: Performance bonus is typically 0.5 or 0.75 of salary, normally paid during CNY. 13th months is paid in December.
d) High increment (around 8% to 10% average) -Qwerty: Actually depends on site performance. More like 5%-8%. 10% is more like promotion.
e) Flexible working hours. Although officially the office hours are 8.30 to 5.30, staff can have flexibility with approval from their superior. No salary deduction for timeloss or absent. -Qwerty: 8am, finish at 5.30pm. Salary deduction for each minute late, applicable for even IDL levels. *sigh*
d) Meal Allowance RM30 per month. -Qwerty: none but transport allowance is soon to be given…
e) No dress code. My daily attire is t-shirt and jeans. -Qwerty: No worries. Just make sure you’re ESD safe at ESD sensitive areas.
f) Possibility of overseas assignment. I’ve been to 3 countries already. -Qwerty: Almost went but project didn’t take off.
g) Complimentary handphone for project team member. I’ve received 6 phones so far. -Qwerty: No complimentary products to take home so far…
h) RM2500 if your wife gave birth or RM4500 if its a Caeser. -Qwerty: Baby Hamper
i) Much more -Qwerty: Can’t really think of any other actually..

The only thing that sucks is probably the salary deduction for each minute after 8am you’re late. . . .wake up at 7am, get to work by 8am I suppose

BTW, just wanna add, The Shah Alam factory is an EXCEPTION in terms of benefits, etc. It is an acquired company many years ago, formerly Ericsson so the benefits are geared towards that of an OEM. Great for you guys, not so great for other people working at other Flex sites…heck even the VSS packages are different.

Hi guy’s,
Thank you for all your opinions. Could you please tell me how much OT does flextronics pay for it’s office positions? (example: 3hourly at rm40??) thats what I heard…

Hi All

Im working at flextronics prai.

Thanks.Bye.Love you all…!!!

Hey All, just want to get your feedback - anybody got VSS or retrenched lately? Heard FSA closing down, so that’ll be huge shockwave coming soon right?

Heh.. what a joke. FSA plant is due to shut down. I really pity my friends who are working there. So much for all the comments above. FTW! :/

Hi all. I also would like to add something since I’ve work there for 10 years. For those who are thinking of work there, please read my statement before you make any decision.

I started work as a test technician. That time was their golden era. I had plenty of OT, a very good engineer and management. In other word, I had a very good team working together.

Thus time change. My superior change. The management change. Everything change. Flextronics entered the time where the management were the type that only knows how to work with their mouth. Only knows how to order but stupid in doing their work. How bad are they? This I will tell you later.

During the global crisis, I had to move to Flextronics PTP. And because of that, they offered their workers the VSS scheme. And yes, I wanted to go for the VSS but my boss persuade me not to take the VSS. He needed me to transfer all the machine and document under my project to the PTP plant and also told me that there will be another VSS coming. This person is not an engineer but one of the top management there. I pity him so I postpone my decision to take the VSS.

During the transfer period, which was during the fasting season, we were busy arranging the machine and document to be moved. But disappointingly, he never showed up. We had alot of trouble with the preparation but all this guy can say is you need to learn how to do it which I have done many times succesfully. In fact, we did not had any support to settle the job. The managers are all very ego and hard to get their approval and also had to be located. Also busy about what I do not know although that time production temporary stop because of the moving process.

After settling all the moving proces, finally, We made it. Dispite all the difficulty, we manage to move all the machine and document under my project to PTP. But happen there was worst. They plan for month for the movement to PTP but they forgot where to locate all the machine and document. The management keep complaining about the machine not in the suitable place but never gave us the exact location where to put. Even sometime after pointing out the location, they will then again complain about it. WTF is that. I had to re-locate my machine 9 times in a month. I don’t mind if it is just a machine. But if it is all the machine, I believe nobody can accept it.

I ended up in a quarreling with my manager because he fail to protect us. I also ahad a fight with a director because of my word with the management. In the end I said to him, if this goes on, I will resign. Again he persuade by telling me after this he will promote me. But guess what happen. When the time came, well, I did not receive any promotion. Again WTF.

And it just happen about 2 weeks later, the management again offered the VSS. After hearing about it, I rush to HR to get it. And what happen next. They reject it. And let me tell what is their reason.
1. Company is not willing to pay me because of my 10 years service.
2. I’m one of the key people for my project.
3. The company needs me. (Don’t know but that is what they told me)
Well, that’s the most despicable reason I’ve ever heard. They say that the company needs me. So can anyone tell me why after 10 years working there, I am still just a technician. FYI, for 10 years service, despite being a key people for the company, I only got RM550 for my increment.

Maybe I’m being over reacting in telling you all about this. You can tell me that I’m joking but thrust me, I have lots of friends from other department there and they all have their own story. Some which are more painful then mines.

To Unknown Key. You are not alone because many other Flextronics workers feel the same. I know that it is natural working with a private company but I’ve been to many other private company and this is the worst.

There’s more I want to write but I think thats enough for now. For those who wish to work there, it’s OK if you want to. My advice is “Don’t get involve with the production line” because the managers there are all s**k.