National Semi modified its shutdown schedule.

The Santa Clara, Calif.-based semiconductor firm said it will distribute its previously announced 10-day shutdown over 10 weeks to minimize the financial effect on employees. Under the new schedule, there will be a four-day work week begining March 17 and involving all North American and European operations. In January, National Semiconductor disclosed the probability of a two-week shutdown in April to keep inventories in balance unless market conditions improved.