Rolls-Royce PLC plans to cut 28 union production employees at its Indianapolis factory, a company spokesman said Thursday evening.

The British jet engine manufacturer offered buyouts or early retirement to reduce the headcount among the 1,700 hourly production employees at the Tibbs Avenue operations, said spokesman Joel Reuter. The company has about 4,700 total employees in Indianapolis.

“We constantly monitor market factors to remain competitive at our Indianapolis production operations,” Rolls-Royce said in a prepared statement. “Our industry is ever-changing and we’ve had to make a difficult, but necessary decision to reduce 28 positions at our Indianapolis manufacturing facility, primarily due to a reduction in demand for the products made here. We are grateful for the flexibility our employees have shown during this difficult time as we explore voluntary programs in an effort to meet these reduction goals.”

Reuter said enough workers have volunteered for buyouts to avoid forced layoffs.

He would not comment on whether the company planned to cut additional non-union employees.

United Auto Workers Local 933 officials, who represent the plant’s production employees, did not respond to messages left at the union hall seeking comment.