Northrop to Cut More Newbury Park Jobs : Defense: ‘Streamlining’ is planned throughout the firm, which lost $63.5 million in 1989, officials say.

Northrop Corp., a major Ventura County employer stung by drastic cuts in federal defense spending, is laying off about 6% percent of its 2,000-employee work force as part of an ongoing effort to streamline operations, a company official said Monday.

About 30 employees from various departments were informed Monday that their jobs will be eliminated at the Newbury Park facility, according to company spokesman Mike Greywitt. And last week, the firm--which manufactures missiles and other military hardware--sent layoff notices to 86 employees, Greywitt said.

Although the cuts have prompted rumors among plant employees that Northrop is planning to close its Thousand Oaks-area operation, as it is doing in Anaheim, Greywitt said, “No decision has been made concerning the Newbury Park plant.”

But, he said, the company will continue to search for cost-cutting measures at the facility, as well as at other plants within the company, which suffered a $63.5-million loss in 1989.

“At this point, we’re continuing to look at the company as a whole for streamlining,” Greywitt said.

Meanwhile, he said, Northrop will try to find jobs for the 116 Newbury Park employees at other company facilities.

In January, Northrop decided to close its Anaheim facility and sell the property to Taiyo Development U.S.A. of Torrance, a subsidiary of Taiyo Real Estate Co., one of Japan’s largest builders. The Northrop employees at the Anaheim plant were transferred to the Hawthorne facility, Greywitt said.

The company also announced in January that the California State Teachers’ Retirement System, a Sacramento-based pension fund that lately has bought several large buildings in Southern California, was buying Northrop’s two Century City office buildings, including its corporate headquarters.

The sale of the Anaheim plant and the office buildings raised about $250 million, which was used to help reduce Northrop’s $881-million debt, company officials said.

In the April 27 Northrop employee newsletter, Kent Kresa, company president and chief executive officer, wrote: “We’re looking at a lot of other facilities that may not be essential for us to be productive.

“Wherever we can find such facilities or equipment, we will undoubtedly sell them,” Kresa said. “We want to become leaner and more productive, and the important point to remember is that we’re in the defense industry, not the real estate business.”

Northrop employees have held key roles in the community. Larry Horner, vice president of Northrop’s Quality Assurance Department, is a former Thousand Oaks mayor.

The company has been a major contributor to the Ventura County United Way and the annual March of Dimes.

Thousand Oaks officials reacted cautiously to the announced layoffs at the Newbury Park site.

“One could hardly fault the company for trying to remain profitable,” said City Manager Grant Brimhall.

But if the company decides to close its Newbury Park operation, it would have a significant impact on the economy of the area, Brimhall said.

“Obviously, they are one of the largest employers in the east county,” Brimhall said. “It’s a considerable economic base.”