Posted on 11/11/2003 2:30:33 PM PST by smith288
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| MIKE MUNDEN | DISPATCH |
| Ronald Jordan works on a Kenmore dryer at the Whirlpool factory in Marion. The company employs 2,700 at the facility. |
Ohioans weary of watching manufacturing jobs leave the state for Mexico and other countries got some good news yesterday: Manufacturing work has left Mexico for Ohio.
Whirlpool said it has moved some production of top-loading washers in Mexico to its plant in Clyde, Ohio. The move is part of $100 million in upgrades to expand seven U.S. facilities, including plants in Marion and Findlay.
The changes won’t increase employment at the plants but shows the company’s commitment to helping them remain competitive, spokesman Christopher Wyse said.
"It’s a relief," said Dave Claborn, president of Marion’s Community Area New Development Organization. "It speaks well of the company and its confidence in our work force and community."
Whirlpool, based in Michigan, employs 2,700 in Marion, 2,500 in Clyde and 2,000 in Findlay, making it one of the largest employers in Hancock, Marion and Sandusky counties.
The news comes as Ohio continues to lose manufacturing jobs — nearly 34,000 so far this year and more than 150,000 since 2000.
Although other U.S. companies have moved work to the country from Mexico or other nations, it’s rare, according to state and national manufacturing trade associations.
"It’s certainly not happening every day," said Darren McKinney, spokesman for National Association of Manufacturers.
Whirlpool had been making a small number of washers in Mexico as part of a joint venture but decided to consolidate production after buying the other share of the venture last year, Wyse said.
It made sense to move that work from Mexico to Clyde because the Ohio facility already was making the same style washer, Wyse said.
Today, the units are manufactured in Clyde and exported for sale in Mexico, he said.
"That’s a nice change, isn’t it?" said Kay Reiter, executive director of the Sandusky County Economic Development Corp.
In Marion, Whirlpool primarily makes dryers, including units for the new Duet washer-dryer combination launched last year. The company decided to expand capacity for Duet dryers based on initial consumer response, Wyse said.
Whirlpool also is increasing the number of dishwashers produced in Findlay, he said.
Wyse declined to disclose how much of the $100 million was invested at each plant, how many additional units would be made at each or how wages compare at its U.S. and foreign manufacturing plants.
Although Whirlpool is investing in its U.S. plants, it also is expanding operations in Mexico and plans to build a new facility there that will make some of the side-byside refrigerators now made in Arkansas.
Still, yesterday’s news is a sign the United States can still be competitive for manufacturing jobs, said Bill Canis, executive director of the National Association of Manufacturers’ Manufacturing Institute.
"If American factories have the right technology and trained work force, no one can beat them," Canis said.
mniquette@dispatch.com
Whirlpool may move more production to Mexico
Reuters ^ | 11-10-03
Posted on 11/10/2003 8:56 AM EST by Brian S
CHICAGO, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Whirlpool Corp. (NYSE:WHR - News), the largest U.S. appliance maker, said on Monday that it may move production of some refrigerators currently made in Arkansas to a new plant in Mexico.
Whirlpool said it will finalize details about the location, scale and costs of the new facility in early 2005.
Whirlpool said the Mexico plant will make its next generation of side-by-side refrigerators for Mexico's domestic and export markets in 2005.
The company, which makes Whirlpool, KitchenAid and other brands, said it was nearing completion of a $100 million investment in seven U.S.-based plants.
Whirlpool said it expects the investments to strengthen its position in a market "marked by intense competitive pressures and rising costs". (Additional reporting by Brad Dorfman)
Good news - is this called insourcing?
Mel Brooks answered that question 16 years ago:
It's Megamaid, she's gone from suck to blow!
A great number of which is already in Marion.
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