Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, Mich., has announced manufacturing production changes to its China operations, which include the closure of its washing machine manufacturing facility in Shanghai, China.

The closure of the Shanghai factory will result in the elimination of about 600 positions. Whirlpool has established several measures in accordance with Chinese labor laws to provide support to all affected employees during this change.

The company's China regional headquarters, a research and development center, and its commercial and administrative operations are unaffected by this change, and will remain located in Shanghai. These operations employ approximately 480 people.

Moving forward, production of washing machines will be consolidated into the company's Hisense-Whirlpool joint venture facility, located in the ChangXing Economic Development Zone, in the ZheJiang Province. The facility, which also manufactures refrigerators, will create 900 new jobs by end of 2009.

Research conducted as part of the company's global operating strategy indicated that consolidation of washers at the ZheJiang factory, will benefit from the greater scale and size of that facility, optimize the use of existing resources and provide cost savings for the organization.