Sony Corp. of America first started it’s South Jersey plant nearly 50 years ago, first producing vinyl music albums for Columbia Records. Sense that time, the plant has gone on to be a high-volume CD-manufacturing plant and even handled some of Sony’s DVD releases. But times have changed as record companies like Columbia Records which is owned by Sony have seen their sales shift over to digital downloads and the need for plants like this lessen. Last year, Sony halted manufacturing DVDs at the plant, eliminating about 160 jobs. Now, an additional 300 jobs will be cut by March when the plant ceases manufacturing operations.

 “In light of the current economic environment and challenges facing the physical media industry, Sony DADC is taking additional steps to reduce cost from our supply chain network in order to remain competitive.” 

This is sometimes the dirty secret of the future, that as more content is moved to digital pipes like iTunes and PSN which give you games, movies and music, the need to produce them in large physical plants lessens. With now no need to create cases, covers and other physical operation needs, companies will continue to cut more and more jobs.