As Amec and now Wood try to globalize the diverse services, layers of upper management doubled. Management blames market conditions, but that was coincidence. Amec's inexperienced management has decimated what Foster Wheeler took a decade to implement. FW had a global financial system with procedures that were SOX, USGAPP, IFRS and local financial laws where entity operated. Global WBS (all services), ERP system that covered job costing, A/P, A/R, procurement, G/L, HR, Payroll, client billing history but WBS code. Automated A/P system, expense, detailed paid cost information. Checks and balances in project execution which promoted team involvement which allowed key team members means to challenge poor decisions by other team members. Now, Americas have been put on a system which puts some control in finance/commerical disciplines which has caused major inefficiencies in project delivery reducing margin. Amec's lack of downstream experience has crippled the service entities that were the main margin contributors globally. Amec has reduced benefits in US but not anywhere else in the world. Canadians are being hired in US, given living costs and given jobs in which employees were laid off or furloughed. Wood has stated shorten benefit change will happen within local laws. All to keep adding overhead upper management layers which do not generate revenue accrual.
