Carrier considers closing plants: All 84 facilities worldwide are being evaluated
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“It’s all about efficiency and lower costs,” said company spokesman John Shaw. “Carrier is currently reviewing all its manufacturing facilities around the world.”
When asked if those reviews would lead to plant closings, Shaw said, “That’s a distinct possibility.”
When asked if he thought the Carrier plant in Morrison would be one of the plants to close, Shaw said, “To say which ones, and when, we can’t say at this point. That’s probably months away.”
Shaw also wouldn’t speculate on the number of plants which may be closed. When asked about rumors that 14 of the 84 plants have already been targeted to be shut down, Shaw said, “I love it when people pull numbers out of the air like that. We don’t know the number of plants.”
There’s no reason to suspect Carrier has targeted the local facility over any of its other 84 plants. The facility in Morrison employs around 1,500, according to its human resources department. The plant opened in 1968.
Local plant manager Dave McCarthy had no comment other than to say, “I’m very concerned with doing business as usual and continuing that each and every day.”
Don Rigsby, the county’s director of economic development, said he’s been informed about Carrier’s decision to downsize. Rigsby said he remains confident the local plant won’t be affected.
“They’re not pointing their finger at McMinnville,” said Rigsby. “They’re trying to lean up manufacturing, maybe waiting to see if the economy generates more business. But no decisions have been made.”
Rigsby said he made a recent trip to the plant in Morrison and there was a fair amount of remodeling and reorganizing taking place. He said he views such improvement work as positive signs the local plant is in no danger of closing.
Rigsby also indicated state Sen. Jerry Cooper and Gov. Phil Bredesen are aware of Carrier’s ongoing evaluations and said the governor may make a phone call to Carrier’s corporate headquarters to stress the importance of the facility in Morrison.
• Hefty payroll: Carrier is Warren County’s largest employer with a workforce reported around 1,500 employees.
• Past history: International Comfort Products closed its plant in Lewisburg, Tenn., last March which eliminated around 2,000 jobs. Carrier is the parent company of ICP.