According to Whirlpool, it invested approximately $250 million in its North American manufacturing base in 2005.
“We continue to strengthen and extend our manufacturing base in North America, specifically in the United States and Mexico, to better improve our operating platform and to continue to remain competitive,” says David L. Swift, executive vice president, North American Region. “In this highly competitive environment, it is imperative that Whirlpool looks for ways to continually improve its operating base.”
In the last 12 months, Whirlpool has upgraded it Clyde, OH, plant for the production of new, top-loading clothes washer models; upgraded its Marion, OH, plant to manufacture new clothes dryer models; begun production of a number of new models at its Fort Smith, AR, plant; begun production of a new front-loading clothes washer in its Monterrey, Mexico, facility; and completed construction of a new refrigerator plant in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico.
Once the Ramos Arizpe plant is operational, Whirlpool estimates that it will have to layoff approximately 730 employees at the company’s Fort Smith. The Fort Smith plant currently employs about 4,600 workers, producing side-by-side refrigerator-freezer models, counter-depth refrigerators and trash compactors, as well as icemaker components.
Globally, Whirlpool Corp. enjoys annual sales of more than $13 billion, and has 68,000 employees working in nearly 50 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world.
From Assembly Mag