My First Watkins Johnson Project 1 Introduction

My First Watkins. Johnson Project 1

Introduction n n My First Two Months at W-J Microwave Tubes were 150% of company profit Founders wanted to invest in solid state products Employees did not all buy into that strategy 2

Microwave Tube Sales n n 95% of Company Revenue Microwave Amplifiers (TWTs for receivers) Microwave Oscillators (BWOs for oscillators, spectrum analyzers) Bands u u u 1 – 2 GHz 2 – 4 GHz 4 – 8 GHz 8 – 12. 4 GHz 12. 4 – 18 GHz 3

Solid State Division YIG Filters were 70% of Sales 1 - 2 GHz 2 - 4 GHz 4 – 8 GHz 8 – 12. 4 GHz 12. 4 – 18 GHz 1 -2 GHz Amplifiers were 20% of Sales 1 -2 GHz Oscillators were 10% of Sales Silicon Transistors did not go above 2 GHz n 4

Solid State Competitor n n Avantek Made their own transistors Claimed that they were about to introduce transistors above 2 GHz Would not sell to W-J 5

Solid State Management Pitch to Founders n n Upgrade small R&D facility Capital Equipment R & D funds Goal was to manufacture our own Silicon transistors 6

Founder’s Response n n Let me think about it Meet at 9 am the following day 7

Founder’s Answer n n n Don’t want to invest in a “me too” operation T. I. And NEC were already making Silicon Transistors for above 2 GHz Consider proposing something that would provide an unique product 8

Employee Response n n Three Engineers leave Manager of R & D leaves Manager of Solid State Amplifiers leaves Division Manager Resigns 9

Keith Kennedy’s Response n n Propose Ga. As oscillators to replace BWOs Claim that can produce units to cover 4 – 8 GHz u 8 – 12. 4 GHz u 12. 4 – 18 GHz u 10

Results n In 6 months supplied sample oscillators to: H-P u Wiltron u Narda u Kruse u n n Production orders in 12 months Product removed from Keith Kennedy’s control 11

Keith’s Directions n n “Go invent another product” “We have people who can productize and produce it” I was very upset for about 2 months I then headed another product development and this time spun it off before management decided to take it away 12

Results n In 18 months supplied 60% of oscillators for: u u n n H-P Wiltron Narda Kruse 10 years later developed Ga. As Field Effect Transistors (FET) Spun off Company’s revenue in 2002 was 75% due to sales of FETs 13

Suggestions n n n Learn to listen to No How a manager says no is important Bay Area culture permits failure 14