Innovation
Whirlpool Corporation has always been a leader in linking new technology with groundbreaking design. From the Uptons’ first electric wringer washer to the newest Whirlpool Duet laundry pair with 6th Sense technology, we have set ourselves apart throughout our history to offer differentiated, sustainable performance. In the highly competitive 21st Century, Whirlpool Corporation resolves to serve our global customers in increasingly innovative ways — efficiently and nimbly. Technologies like 6th Sense are shared across regions, and innovations move quickly around the globe, from Europe to Asia and to North and South America.
Our innovation pipeline is rich with ideas, producing $3.6 billion in innovation revenue during 2010 despite a challenging global economic environment. While such results are remarkable and significant, the success of embedded innovation goes well beyond added revenues. The true measure of this vast accomplishment lies in the structure of the process itself.
In 2011, we are reinvigorating our innovation efforts, tapping our entire global organization to bring new innovations forward, from everyone, everywhere.
At Whirlpool Corporation, our culture of innovation enables us to deliver real, sustainable value to families in ways never before seen in either the company or the home appliance industry. Just as Emory Upton put an electric motor on his nephew’s hand-operated washer, Whirlpool Corporation continues to uncover new ways to transform home and family life, providing timely, relevant solutions that excite our shareholders, consumers and employees.
“We’ve made significant progress in terms of cost and quality, but even becoming the best in the world on both counts would provide Whirlpool only a platform for survival, nothing more. Absent innovation and value, home appliances built from such a base will be viewed by customers as commodities.
“To thrive and create shareholder value, Whirlpool must differentiate itself and its products from competitors and their products. How? By understanding better than anyone in the industry the present and future needs of consumers and trade customers. We believe that our research in those areas is the most exhaustive in the home-appliance industry.”
— Excerpt taken from the 1993 Letter to Shareholders
signed by David R. Whitwam, Former Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer
