Quarterly Revenue Drive Destroying Company. Won't be around in 20 years. - Mechanical Engineer MTS Systems Employee Review

1.0
3 Aug 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Unparalleled opportunities for custom, creative solutions of your own design. Drive towards Class A MRP systems has resulted in an ever-improving ECM system.

Cons

Quarterly revenue drive is destroying company. Jeff Graves squandered an improved employee morale after Laura Hamilton was pushed out. Had employees ready to turn the tide at MTS. Improved MRP processes had company driving towards more efficient execution of projects. The improved MRP processes are all for naught. Revenue drive add false priority into the mix versus customer delivery and cost. Through Class A MRP out the window every quarter, and go to spreadsheets and backwards execution of projects (engineer easy components first, then difficult ones later to drive revenue). Yet every quarter Jeff Graves is surprised by our overrun of costs and inability to deliver to the customer schedule. Management has no clue. If they had a employee survey they might. Employees are beat up over managements failings. Record revenue quarter after quarter with same understaffed engineers translates into layoffs. Work/Life balance is terrible if you try and meet your customer delivery requirements; way understaffed. For the past two years there have been shutdowns on the k of July 4th and Christmas/New Years. Extremely little time off of your own choosing. For contractors the result is two unpaid forced vacations a year. Every benefit area is being systematically cut. Change to 401K policy this year netted a 3% pay cut for everyone. Always waiting for the next shoe to drop on benefits.

Explore other reviews about MTS Systems

5.0
9 Oct 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great people, great management, excellent benefits and great opportunities for self improvement

Cons

Shifting internal structure can make things a bit complicated

3.0
8 Aug 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The company is owned by ITW and some things have been an improvement that came with their ownership. MTS has been a great company to work for and has had good management that was in many places promoted from within. Historically compensation was fair and at times well above average.

Cons

Sales professionals compensation has always been based on Salary being 50 percent and commission plans being 50 percent. However the new ITW compensation plan for the sales team in 2025 was implemented to minimize the amount of money that could be earned via commission during the fiscal year and designed to punish sales persons who did not make at least 100 percent of their goals by making them pay back commission paid out during the year. This is an unacceptable plan and borderline unethical. If you are seeking a sales job, my advice is look elsewhere.

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