A corporate reorganization at Whirlpool Corporation, announced earlier this month, is not expected to impact the company’s Corridor operations, including its manufacturing facility in Middle Amana. A spokesperson confirmed March 11 that the two-phased reorganization plan is focused on Whirlpool’s corporate center in Benton Harbor, Michigan, “not jobs at our U.S. manufacturing operations, including Amana.” […]
A corporate reorganization at Whirlpool Corporation, announced earlier this month, is not expected to impact the company’s Corridor operations, including its manufacturing facility in Middle Amana.
A spokesperson confirmed March 11 that the two-phased reorganization plan is focused on Whirlpool’s corporate center in Benton Harbor, Michigan, “not jobs at our U.S. manufacturing operations, including Amana.”
The company issued a statement on the reorganization March 4.
“Whirlpool Corporation has announced that the company is moving to a more simplified and focused organizational model to support its continued transformation into a high-growth, high-margin business that will enable its long-term success,” the statement reads. “Implementation of these changes will roll out in two waves, the first occurring last week, focusing on the top layers of the organization and select areas of work – including changes to roles, work scopes, and in some cases elimination of positions. The second wave will focus on the remainder of the organization, and those changes will be shared no later than early May.
“Impacted employees will receive transition support, including a comprehensive severance compensation package and other services,” the statement adds. “While these are not easy choices, we know they are required to secure the long-term success of the company.”
The statement didn’t indicate how many Whirlpool employees might be impacted by the reorganization.
The spokesperson said the reorganization is primarily due to Whirlpool’s announcement in January 2023 of its plans to divest most of its businesses in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). As part of the divestiture,
Reuters reported Whirlpool would form a new Europe-focused entity with Turkish household appliances manufacturer Arcelik.
The deal, which would see Whirlpool and Arcelik's European businesses fold into a new company, was approved by European antitrust regulators in October 2023, and is awaiting final approval from the United Kingdom’s antitrust regulator.
Whirlpool currently has about 2,400 employees at
its manufacturing plant at 2800 220th Trail in Middle Amana and at a warehousing and distribution facility at 720 Alexander Way in North Liberty. The Middle Amana plant primarily produces refrigerators and related products.
The plant was part of the Amana Manufacturing company, founded in 1934. The company was sold to a group of investors in 1950 and renamed Amana Refrigeration. It was subsequently sold to Raytheon in 1965, to Goodman Global in 1997, to Maytag in 2002, and finally to Whirlpool Corporation in 2006.
