BENTON HARBOR, MI — Whirlpool Corp. is restructuring much of its North American manufacturing capacity as part of a continuing effort to increase the efficiency of it supply chain and production resources. According to the company, the changes will result in job gains in some regions and job cuts in others.
For example, in Ohio, the company is expanding its laundry manufacturing operations, adding some 1,100 new jobs to the communities of Marion and Clyde. The company is also expanding production at it refrigeration products manufacturing facility in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico.
On the down side, once this latter expansion is complete, the company will lay off approximately 700 employees at its facility in Fort Smith, AR. These latest cuts come on top of a recently completed voluntary layoff of about 940 employees in the same facility.
Whirlpool is also planning to adjust production levels at its Evansville, IN, top-freezer refrigeration products manufacturing facility in 2007. According to Whirlpool, projections for lower consumer demand will result in the layoff of about 500 employees.
Finally, the company’s planned adjustments include expansion of manufacturing capacity for bottom-freezer refrigeration products at its Amana manufacturing facility in Iowa. This expansion is expected to ultimately create up to 400 new jobs.
"Whirlpool's leadership position in the appliance industry is built on our ability to offer consumers a portfolio of leading brand names supported by innovative products and services," says David L. Swift, president of Whirlpool North America. "These initiatives strengthen Whirlpool's industry-leading position while also improving productivity and efficiency across our North American manufacturing platform.”
Overall, Whirlpool employs some 80,000 employees at more than 60 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world.
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