AUTOMATION TO CUT 7,000 JOBS AT SEARS

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 8, 1992                   TAG: 9201080074
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CHICAGO                                LENGTH: Short
AUTOMATION TO CUT 7,000 JOBS AT SEARS
Nearly 7,000 jobs will be eliminated at Sears, Roebuck and Co. because of a new computerized cash register system that will allow further streamlining of operations, the struggling retail giant announced Tuesday.
Sears said it is spending $60 million for 28,000 terminals and 6,000 automated customer-service kiosks. It said the changes should reduce operating expenses by about $50 million annually, beginning this year.
There was no immediate indication of the impact of the cuts on local stores, such as at Roanoke's Valley View Mall. A spokesman said he didn't think many people would lose their jobs, because the cuts will be spread among Sears' 868 retail stores and will be offset by attrition and current vacancies. The Roanoke store's manager could not be reached for comment.
Sears said through a spokesman that the new technology, coupled with automation of routine tasks, will eliminate about 1,000 full-time non-sales positions and about 5,900 part-time clerical positions by the end of the first quarter in March.
The computerized registers will be linked to Sears' nationwide data base and will put more customer information and computer power on the sales floor.
Sears, which employs 313,000 people full and part time, has eliminated 44,000 jobs in the past 1 1/2 years as part of its effort to become more profitable.
Staff writer Sandra Brown Kelly contributed to this story.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB