One Million Washers Produced in 35 Weeks Mar 7, 2011

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A new washer assembly line started up in mid-2010 at the Maytag plant in Clyde, OH has already produced its millionth washing machine, a Maytag Centennial model.

Maytag, part of Whirlpool Corp., started the new assembly line last summer to manufacture a new generation of laundry appliances. The company said a high level of manufacturing efficiency enabled the line to build its first one million washers in just 35 weeks. Previous product launches have taken three to five times longer to reach the same milestone.

“We removed an assembly line that had been producing thousands of units a day for more than a quarter of a century and re-built it from the ground up,” said Alan Holaday, vice president, manufacturing operations, North America Region, for Maytag.

The new-generation appliances made on the line include the higher capacity units that offer energy and water savings. These include the Centennial and Bravos X models, rated as the No. 1 and No. 2 top-selling washers in the United States. Most top-load washers units made on the line are Energy Star qualified and Tier 3 CEE qualified.

The line also makes the new Maxima front-load washer.

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