Blanchardstown is starting point for super computer

EOIN O'Driscoll part of what he himself calls the "greying" electronics industry, is a perfect example of how Ireland is benefiting from the return of successful emigrants.

Mr O'Driscoll is the general manager of Stratus Computer Ireland which is based in Blanchardstown Industrial Park and is the manufacturing centre from which Stratus computers are exported worldwide.

The US multinational makes computers for "critical applications" or situations where the operators simply cannot afford to have their computer crash. The National Lottery uses a Stratus computer so as to ensure against a system breakdown at 6 p.m. on a Saturday evening.

The computers, which range in price from £130,000 to £650,000, are "custom configured" and are built so that if any one element breaks down, the computer keeps on working.

This is done by duplicating each element of the system. The two identical systems then work side-by-side, each of them carrying out every operation. If any one element of either system breaks down, the twin system takes over the running of the operation on its own.

When a breakdown occurs anywhere in the world electronic contact is immediately and automatically made with Blanchardstown. DHL is contacted and a replacement part is brought to the location concerned. Several centres around the globe are involved in the network and Stratus guarantees the replacement of any broken element of its system within 24 hours, anywhere in the world. The defective part is returned to Blanchardstown for repair.

Stratus systems are constructed in compartments, with each compartment easily removed. A red light draws attention to a compartment containing a broken part. There is no need for any specialised personnel.

Stratus computers are used by cellular telephone operators, by the FBI in the US, by credit authorisation networks, securities exchanges and by 999-type emergency networks. It is part of the system in the US designed to detect incoming nuclear missiles.

Overall sales last year were worth $610 million (£396 million), of which over $400 million was of products produced in Blanchardstown.

Mr O'Driscoll is an engineering graduate from University College Cork. He worked for Northern Telecom (now called Nortel) both here and in Canada before leaving to set up Wang Laboratories in Limerick in 1980, where he was managing director. The company employed 750 people. He moved to the US after three years to take over as vice-president of international marketing.

After some years in the US he decided he wanted to come back to Ireland so his family would be rooted here. He moved back to Ireland around seven years ago. In 1994, he took over at Blanchardstown. At the time the plant manufactured Stratus computers for everywhere apart from the US. In 1995, the move began to locate all of the manufacturing in Dublin and this has now been achieved.

Some 250 people now work in Blanchardstown, doubt the number in 1994, and the company has also bought the plant, which it had been leasing. It is part of the process of "putting down stronger roots", Mr O'Driscoll says.

He estimates that, because of work sourced out by the company, about 10 people are employed for every one in Stratus Ireland. Though not all of these would be in Ireland, the company did win the Taoiseach's Award for Business Linkages 1994 for its strong commitment to Irish sourcing.

The company is perhaps unique in that a further 150 workers involved in manufacturing in the US are managed from Dublin and report there. A number of managers move back and forth across the Atlantic and O'Driscoll himself goes to the US for one week every month "but we are seeing if we can manage globally without worrying about geography".

Video conferencing with colleagues in the US, Asia and continental Europe is a regular feature. Individuals in Blanchardstown report to persons in the US who in turn report back to Blanchardstown.

There is plenty of talent in Ireland "and people don't want to move the way they used to. So why not bring the work to the people rather than the other way around?"

But a shortage of talent could hamper growth in the computer electronics sector, according to Mr O'Driscoll. Within Stratus he is growing more cautious about "putting my hand up and saying we can handle that. It's just note so easy to get people now".

There is a lot of demand out there. We have not had severe difficulties, but unless supply is increased there will be less supply than demand." Poaching is becoming more prevalent in the industry generally. If the shortage worsens then the practice of paying "retention bonuses" might develop here. This in turn might make Ireland a less attractive location.

A phenomenon which has struck Mr O'Driscoll since his return is the extent to which his workers are involved in continuing education. The company offers a 100 per cent refund on education fees when workers pursue courses relevant to their job. At the moment the spend on the scheme is about £100,000 per annum.