TECHNOLOGY - Dec. 2, 1995

AST Fires 530 Workers at Hong Kong Factory: The Irvine-based computer company said the move is part of its efforts to cut costs and buy more of its components from outside vendors. The firm said its second-quarter earnings will be reduced by $20 million as a result of the restructuring. The troubled company has already posted five consecutive quarterly losses totaling almost $196 million. The employees affected by the cuts worked in a circuit board assembly plant, an operation that is being consolidated at AST’s facilities in China, where the company employs about 1,000 people. The cuts bring AST’s worldwide employment to about 6,000, including 550 in Orange County. The company also has facilities in Texas, Ireland and Taiwan.