Whirlpool Corp.’s North American Manufacturing Continues ‘World Class Manufacturing’ Progress

Two Facilities in Mexico Achieved Silver Certification in 2024

Whirlpool Corporation adopted World Class Manufacturing (WCM) as their global manufacturing operating system in 2017. WCM helps deliver “best-in-class” product quality, competitive pricing, and reliable product delivery for consumers. The system also creates a safe work environment while  simultaneously encouraging active engagement as employees work day in and day out to deliver home appliances that help improve life at home.

Manufacturing sites implementing WCM follow a continuous improvement process to drive efficiency across 10 distinct pillars, including safety, cost, maintenance, quality, the environment and people development. Progress against goals for each pillar are measured by outside auditors, with each participating facility earning the hard won levels of Bronze, Silver, Gold and World Class Manufacturing. 

In Q4, two Whirlpool Corporation facilities in Mexico - Horizon and Plastics - were awarded silver level certifications based on their rigorous focus and their audit performance. With the addition of Horizon and Plastics to the silver level, the company currently has three silver-certified sites (Horizon, Plastics, Ramos in Mexico) and four bronze-certified plants (Clyde and Findlay in Ohio and Supsa and Celaya in Mexico) in North America. 

“World Class Manufacturing is the backbone of our manufacturing processes. The rigor provided by the WCM process keeps us focused on employee well-being, eliminating downtime, managing inventory and reducing waste - making factories like Horizon and Plastics more efficient and welcoming workplaces.”

“World Class Manufacturing is the backbone of our manufacturing processes,” said Jason Ebert, vice president of North American manufacturing for Whirlpool Corporation. “The rigor provided by the WCM process keeps us focused on employee well-being, eliminating downtime, managing inventory and reducing waste - making factories like Horizon and Plastics more efficient and welcoming workplaces.” 

Whirlpool Corp. employees are empowered to contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that are part of WCM and are provided with ongoing opportunities for learning and development, helping foster a culture of growth across the organization.

In order to receive the WCM silver certification, manufacturing sites like Horizon and Plastics have to maintain a low safety incident rate, expand WCM systematic pillars by 60%, and achieve 7% savings over the last 12 months. To achieve these standards of excellence it is critical to have employees involved in completing audit requirements and advancing through the certification levels.

At Whirlpool Horizon in Ciudad Apodaca, Mexico where the company produces washing machines primarily for consumers in Central and South America, the WCM silver certification allowed the team to reach new heights. 

“The WCM methodology has been pivotal for me, both professionally and personally. It has helped me change the way I view things, not only at work, but also in my daily life. Since we’ve implemented WCM at Horizon, I’ve been able to move from being an operator to a team leader, and now, to a line supervisor. This professional growth has been very meaningful to me and I am grateful for the skills developed and performance achieved,” said  Jose Alfredo García, Assembly Line Supervisor, Horizon Plant.

"The Whirlpool Horizon plant’s silver certification highlights our commitment to perfecting processes, ensuring safety, and setting new standards for manufacturing excellence," said Stefano Meloni, Whirlpool Corporation’s WCM lead for North America. 

For the employees at Whirlpool Plastics, also in Ciudad Apodaca, Mexico, the WCM silver certification was a time to celebrate.

“Silver certification for Whirlpool Plastics reflects the team’s dedication to innovation and excellence,” continued Meloni. “This milestone celebrates their ability to overcome challenges, deliver exceptional quality, and inspire the entire company to continue leading in manufacturing excellence."

From Plastics Plant, Raquel Chihuahua, a production operator, shared, “I'm incredibly enthusiastic about the positive impact of WCM on our plant, especially as it led to this Silver award!  Participating in initiatives from Safety, Autonomous Maintenance, and Workplace Organization has shown me how much influence I can have as an operator, contributing directly to our plant’s success. It's truly amazing to see how we're not just improving machines, but also ourselves as collaborators, learning, growing, and working together to achieve our goals!”

With these latest achievements, Whirlpool Corporation continues its journey toward manufacturing excellence, reinforcing its commitment to innovation, efficiency, and employee empowerment.