Whirlpool plans manufacturing shake-up

Whirlpool will reconfigure some of its North American manufacturing operations, according to a statement from the company.

The company will close a cooktop and oven manufacturing facility in Oxford, Miss., moving about 500 jobs north to a facility in Cleveland, Tenn.

Awashing machine manufacturing facility in Puebla, Mexico will be closed, and 140 employees from that facility will be moved to Celaya, Mexico.

The Benton Harbor, Mich.-based company had determined that both moves represented a better distribution of resources at the two locations.

Al Holaday, vp-manufacturing operations for Whirlpool North America, said in a statement, "This consolidation, like other changes we've made … will help ensure that Whirlpool maintains its leadership position in today's changing global marketplace."