Whirlpool Celebrates Manufacturing Day, Wins TWICE VIP Awards

By Alan Wolf, YSN

It may not be on every calendar, but today (Friday, Oct. 2) is Manufacturing Day (or MFG Day).

An initiative of The Manufacturing Institute, MFG Day is held annually on the first Friday of October to encourage careers in modern manufacturing and bring diverse makers and creators together to address their collective challenges and help their communities and future genertions thrive.

As it has for the past five years, Whirlpool marked MFG Day by honoring the work of its manufacturing employees around the world, and by highlighting its creation of a global world-class manufacturing production system (WCM). What sets today’s observation apart though, is that for the first time the company is celebrating the event on a global scale, both virtually and on site, with plant tours, video series and other content designed to give people a look inside its 59 production facilities and R&D centers worldwide.

The appliance maker readily acknowledges that manufacturing is one of the core strengths of its business, and is driven by the company’s WCM standards, which not only streamlines operations but “encourages diversity of thought” from all employees. Through this approach, Whirlpool continues to advance its manufacturing systems in an ongoing effort to achieve what it calls “Zero”— zero injuries, zero defects and zero production down time.

“As we have all experienced how dramatically COVID-19 has affected all parts of life, we have also realized the importance of manufacturing for our company and for society at large,” said Whirlpool chairman/CEO Marc Bitzer. “Without the remarkable commitment of our manufacturing workforce and the flexibility of our manufacturing sites, millions of consumers would have been without a washing machine or refrigerator in times of need.”

In line with the aims of MFG Day, Whirlpool said it remains committed to inspiring men and women of all ages and backgrounds to pursue careers in manufacturing, and continues to offer opportunities across all disciplines in manufacturing and supporting roles, such as human resources, marketing, finance, project management and administration.

“American manufacturing is alive and more important than ever,” added Joe Liotine, president of Whirlpool’s North American region. “Our manufacturing workforce is responsible for building best-in-class home appliances that people count on every day.”

He continued, “On Manufacturing Day, we are committed to highlighting the long-term viability of manufacturing careers. STEM education [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] in our schools is critical to ensuring that future workers are prepared and equipped to use the latest manufacturing technology to help bring innovation to life.”

In other Whirlpool news, the vendor earned four separate honors in TWICE magazine’s annual VIP (Very Important Product) Awards competition, in which nominated products and services are voted on by retailers and distributors based on features, design and value. Whirlpool was recognized for its Smart Capable Top Load Dryer; its new Maytag dishwashers with Dual Power Filtration and top-load washer line with an Extra Power button; and the company’s Yummly mobile app, which won top place in the Meal Prep/Smart Home Hub category.

“Being recognized by such a respected industry authority reminds us all at Whirlpool brand why we work hard to deliver innovations that make a difference,” said Nelly Martinez, senior brand manager. “We pride ourselves on creating innovative home products that help ease the household tasks of cooking, cleaning and washing, and it is very humbling to know that industry leaders agree. It feels really good to be selected as a top brand by TWICE.”

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