Whirlpool's VP Discusses Skills Gaps and Technology Investments

In a recent interview, the vice president of Whirlpool, Jim Keppler, shared his views on the future of the American manufacturing industry. He spoke about the challenge of competing with other countries, as well as about programs that could boost the number of skilled workers entering manufacturing jobs in the United States.

According to Keppler, the biggest challenge facing the American manufacturing industry is competition from overseas. Congress has announced several measures that could help to create a level playing field between the United States and other manufacturing nations. For example, the recent highway bill could improve infrastructure in the United States, allowing the manufacturing industry to transport raw materials and finished products more easily.

Whirlpool is part of a private sector group known as the Manufacturing Council. This group advises the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker, about the issues affecting the manufacturing industry. This group gives a voice not only to Whirlpool, but also to other major American manufacturers.

Whirlpool is a major employer in the manufacturing industry. The company runs the world's largest washing machine facility in Clyde, Ohio, which employs more than 3,000 people. This high-tech facility requires skilled workers, such as tool and die makers, so it's important for Whirlpool to be able to recruit workers with the right skills. To help fill these skilled manufacturing jobs, Whirlpool worked with a local community college to create an apprenticeship program, which trains people in the necessary skills. Whirlpool offers jobs to all apprentices who complete the program.

Whirlpool also invests in technology that helps to improve productivity at its facilities. For example, Whirlpool is collaborating with a lab in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to develop 3D printing technology. According to Keppler, the costs associated with 3D printing is currently too high to make it a viable resource for producing parts, although the process of making physical objects could have interesting applications in tooling. New technologies are also helping the company to diagnose problems with appliances remotely, so service technicians can get straight to work fixing the problem when they arrive on site.

Keppler keeps a relatively positive attitude toward the future of Whirlpool, despite the challenges facing the manufacturing industry overall. With a history of more than 100 years, Whirlpool is a leading manufacturer of appliances in the United States. According to Keppler, the company is adopting a more global outlook by making acquisitions in China and Europe.

Keppler stresses that recruiting and hiring the right workers is essential to the continuing success of the American manufacturing industry. With the last of the baby boomer generation retiring soon, it is essential to develop programs that can train young people in the skills required by the manufacturing industry.

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