I get it. Trying to modernize a manufacturing plant to make sure it is “a competitive and viable operation for the long-term.”  It is said that the Amana Iowa Whirlpool plant had worked multiple shifts and five manufacturing lines just five years ago.  There are also report that Whirlpool has moved exclusively the manufacture of its french door refrigerators to Celaya, Guanajuato Mexico investing $65 million there.

 

Whirlpool Chairman and CEO Marc Bitzer, a German born spreadsheet guy has been spearheading these decisions.  342 jobs were tanked in February 2026 and now another 250 jobs are being lost. Down to one operating shift and one production line.

 

So who is this CEO Marc Bitzer?  Why is a German Born individual making decisions in Iowa?  Has he even been to the plant let alone Iowa?  Has he done any of this type of decision making and work in his Native Germany?  What spreadsheet said to cut jobs as the excuse to modernize and lay off a huge portion of your workforce just five years after a major peak?

 

Better question yet, why not have these people that are being laid off be a part of modernizing the plant lending itself to areal future?  Not creative enough?  How many plants in Germany has Bitzer decided to “modernize” and lay off workers? What Strategic acquisitions have replace Amana jobs?  Is this what Bitzer learned in Grad School in Switzerland?

 

I have no problem with CEO’s coming in from outside the area and having companies thrive. However, there have been a tremendous number of stupid backward decisions made by by these types. One area is in acquisitions where companies already have products, services, and manufacturing then go out and by a competitor who has a customer or two that you are not trying to get through your own hard work. Decisions made by spreadsheets instead of going on site and seeing what can really be done has to stop.

 

These out of the area CEOs come in and say that companies thriving in smaller population areas need to be located in big cities for “convenience”.  BS.  These clowns don’t want to live there.  Ask Caterpillar.  Ask Boeing.

 

It is ironic that Bitzer has spent much time in the United States working for a Blue State company then takes over Whirlpool and starts nuking a Red State operation.  If it isn’t political, it is affected by the blue ideology that he has come through.

 

I am being harsh because we have people running businesses who have never really gotten their hands dirty doing the business or anything near it.  This happens at the hands of the many good people who could easily contribute to the “Modernization and forward progress of the company”.  However, some spreadsheet says otherwise!