Raicam Reviews

Relocated from Leamington to a small run down unit at the back of an old industrial estate with difficult road access in bad weather. There is no reliable bus service or other public transportation. Car parking is an issue unless you arrive before 7 am as there are only about twelve parking spaces including visitor's places and sometimes company test vehicles and vans use these spaces. Unless you like food from a 'greasy spoon' type van which arrives once per day (usually sold out) there is no lunch available to buy within walking distance and the nearest supermarket is a 10 minute drive away. The design office is noisy and in poor repair being located next to large CNC machines and test rigs with no soundproofing. The office has no temperature control so temperatures can be as low as 9 deg C in winter upto 31 degs in summer both well outside MISRA guidelines. There are no Work instructions or processes in place, just the attitude of get it on a vehicle as soon as possible and we'll fix everthing there (JGID) although ASIL safety category B/C, lip service is paid to ISO 26262 and 61508. System FMEAs don't exist but superfical mechanical requirement coverage is substituted instead, fortunatly no audits have ever been performed. There is no attempt to follow any kind of V diagram or development process, similarly there are no specifications or design doumentation so all details are held in the designer's head which, as staff turn over is high, causes large problems of continuity. Due to the constant downsizing and reference to 'offshoring' there is an all pervassive feeling that everything is being run down and it is only matter of time before the inevitable closure happens. The renumeration package is basic only. A legal minimum pension (following problems with the previous pension fund) and the low end of the competative salary range. The biggest problem is the working hours however. This is a 40 hour week company recently upped from the 37.5 (as is the automotive normal) which is fine but Raicam close the building at 1 pm on Fridays so that 40 hours has to be made up in 4.5 days (9 hour days). Working through lunch is encouraged or late finishes will be required. Solo work is discouraged so it is not always possible to work as late as you might like. No training is available or given and it is expected that you can train yourself on the job. Preferably you are an instant expert on the fine detail of Raicam designs when you start.