David Graziosi
Analyst · Oppenheimer & Company.
Ian, it's Dave. I appreciate the questions there. So as we mentioned on the Q4 -- the August 4 call, really started to this weakness in build and reductions in build rates really started to manifest itself early Q3. What's -- to Fred's comments, there was certainly an expectation at least what we were being provided with from a build rate or forecast perspective at that stage was really focused on Q3 at that point in terms of adjustments. So what has since transpired is some level of adjustment, we would certainly look at it from a bit of a normalization from Q3 into Q4. So I think it appears to be starting to settle out simply because adjustments have been made to Fred's comments around inventory, also importantly, just bill rate capabilities. Once you start taking out your headcount, it very much does restrict output, obviously. So we see that some level of balance from Q3 into Q4. Our cost approach, as you know, you've covered us for a number of years, is pretty consistent as we entered the year and certainly focused on the macro environment and frankly, the volatility, the uncertainty, we would view as almost unprecedented other than COVID to a level because you had so many things coming into the market that became clear to us that, that was going to have the impact we believe, at the time of really inserting a tremendous amount of uncertainty into the end market for end users. So that implies that they have the ability to defer which they, in fact, have done, then we needed to better align ourselves accordingly. So what we've done has really been throughout the year, it wasn't -- we arrived in Q3 and decided to do certain things. It's been more of a full year approach. And again, thank the Allison team for their -- managing that situation in a way that is certainly consistent with our view, which is what we can control and really looking at the broader markets in terms of feedback to take whatever advantage we can, but also, I think, understanding the voice of the market in terms of what's needed, absolutely needed at this stage, and that's what's been reflected in our activity level.