Whirlpool shifting production out of Tennessee plant

Whirlpool Corporation announced changes for its North American cooking product manufacturing facilities. The changes are part of an ongoing comprehensive worldwide effort to optimize the company's regional manufacturing facilities, supply base, product platforms and technology resources to better support its leading global brands with innovative products.

The changes include shifting production of select freestanding cooking products currently manufactured at the Whirlpool facility in Cleveland, Tenn., to Whirlpool manufacturing facilities in Tulsa, Okla., and a yet-to-be determined location in Mexico.

The changes will result in the elimination of approximately 370 positions at the Cleveland, Tenn., facility. Whirlpool expects that the majority of the eliminated positions will be absorbed through normal attrition and the reduction of temporary positions. The specific number of new positions at the Tulsa facility is not yet final. Once the Mexican location is finalized, those headcount numbers will also be determined. The moves are expected to be completed in 2007.

"These changes will improve the productivity and efficiency of our North American manufacturing platform," said David L. Swift, president, Whirlpool North America. "The production moves also ensure that we can continue to rapidly introduce innovative new products under our leading portfolio of brand names."

These changes reflect the strategic role of the company's North American manufacturing base within its global manufacturing and distribution network. Products from the North American facilities are sold to consumers in the United States, Mexico, Canada and in markets around the world.