Kohler Co. has announced it will end engine production at its Sheboygan County facility and move the work to Hattiesburg, MS. This will cause a loss of about 280 production and 320 administrative jobs.
Production workers who are not taking severance packages will be able to take other jobs at the Wisconsin Kohler facility; many have been transferred to the company's generator division as it is adding several jobs.
The company said in a statement the consolidation “will create a simplified customer experience and is not about reducing headcount or downsizing the business.
“As a part of the agreement, we will make available alternative jobs in Wisconsin for the affected associates,” the statement continued. “We remain fully committed to our headquarters in Wisconsin, where we are continuing to invest in our facilities and actively recruiting for a wide range of roles.”
Kohler's existing engine plant in Hattiesburg will have its manufacturing footprint expanded, with investments of $15 million planned and the hiring of 250 people in the next 2 years.
Read the full article on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's website.