Boston Scientific Restructuring Impacts Unknown for Maple Grove Site

announced Thursday, July 28 that net sales for the second quarter of 2011 exceed 2010 numbers by almost $50 million, rising from $1.928 billion to $1.975 billion.

The good news, however, came with a caveat.

The Natick, Mass.-based medical device manufacturer also launched a global “restructuring” plan that will result in the company shedding 1,200 to 1,400 jobs by 2013.

Boston Scientific employs around 5,000 people in Minnesota, but it is unclear how the restructuring will affect facilities in Maple Grove, Plymouth and St. Paul.

“(The restructuring) will occur through a combination of factors, including employee attrition and targeted headcount reductions as the program is implemented,” senior vice president of corporate communications Denise Kaigler said in an email.

She added: “Plans detailing specific employee impacts will be developed for each affected region and business, and (Boston Scientific) will consult in due course with relevant employee representative bodies, where required under local laws.”

Kaigler also confirmed that the restructuring would begin in the third quarter of 2011.

Steve Blum, vice president of marketing for the Boston Scientific Cardiology, Rhythm & Vascular Group in Maple Grove, doesn't expect sites around the Twin Cities to be impacted by the restructuring.

"The bottom line is we don't expect the Twin Cities to be impacted at all (by the layoffs)," Blum said. "This is largely for other parts of our global universe. We have already gone through a couple initiatives over the last few years that have right-sized our businesses out of the Twin Cities."

The Associated Press reported that the company is expecting to save between $225 and $275 million annually by reducing its global workforce by as much as 6 percent.

Word of the restructuring came a day after the company announced a five-year plan to invest $150 million in China to “drive growth and increase market share through local manufacturing, physician training and an expanded commercial footprint.”

In addition, Boston Scientific expects to increase its employee base in China from approximately 200 to more than 1,200 by 2016.