Procter and Gamble today announced it would close its manufacturing plant in Kansas City, Kansas, in late 2020.
The plant at 1900 Kansas Ave., which manufactures dish soap, employs about 280 full-time workers, according to a spokesman for P&G. It has a 113-year history in Kansas City, Kansas. Products made here include Dawn, Gain, Ivory and Joy hand dish-washing detergents.
According to the company statement, the plant is being moved from its 1905 building in Kansas City, Kansas, to a new facility at Tabler Station, West Virginia. A study started in 2013 was the basis for this decision, according to the company.
“Decisions like this are never easy, but we are communicating this decision more than two years in advance to help our employees plan for the future. We are committed to supporting P&G people through the transition in a manner consistent with our values and principles,” the P&G statement read.
P&G will negotiate with the local labor union for support in helping employees make the transition to other P&G sites or to jobs outside P&G, according to the announcement.
“Over the next three years, P&G leadership is committed to working with every individual to determine the best opportunity for them in accordance with their personal situation, business needs, and our principles and values,” Rotha Penn Brauntz, communications manager for P&G, stated. “We are working hard so that we can find another position for everyone within P&G if they are willing to re-locate. There are no guarantees and we can make no promises, but this is the goal we have. P&G will work with every individual on a plan that best fits their needs, including transfers to other P&G U.S. locations such as Tabler Station. P&G will discuss options with the union at Kansas City regarding the specifics of the transition as it relates to employees, relocation and separation packages.”
Brauntz stated that the Kansas City, Kansas, plant has operated for 113 years.
“The employees are well known for their strong performance, culture and contributions to the community,” she stated. “This decision was not easy, and is not a reflection on the employees, their work or the communities. P&G is proud of its employees and is hopeful that many of them will re-locate to other P&G manufacturing sites in the U.S. as P&G continues its supply network transformation and investment in American manufacturing.”
According to Brauntz, the P&G study’s purpose during the past four years has been about transforming the way P&G goes to market in North America.
“The critical determining factor in our Supply Chain re-design is the importance to deliver an integrated supply chain solution that is closer to the largest North American populations of our customers and consumers and which enables P&G to co-locate with suppliers and leverage our scale, enabling production of multiple brand categories at one location,” Brauntz stated. “In this sense, being able to have a production site that can respond within 24 hours, with low logistic costs, plays a critical factor when deciding where to install additional capacity. When building the new facility, the Tabler Station location was strategically selected to best meet this need. “
Kansas City, Kansas, Mayor David Alvey has made a statement released by the UG’s public information officer on Wednesday about the P&G plant closing:
“The Unified Government received notice from Procter and Gamble on Tuesday evening that they will be ending production at their Kansas City, Kansas plant in mid-2020. They stated that this decision was based upon an internal study at Proctor and Gamble that sought to identify ways to align their production with their supply chain partners.
“The Unified Government and the Wyandotte Economic Development Council were not invited, during any part of the Proctor and Gamble study, to assist them in developing solutions in Kansas City, Kansas. The plant has been in operation for 113 years and has provided quality employment to thousands.
“We work diligently with our KCK businesses to make certain that we are a great place to do business. We would have done the same for Procter and Gamble if they would have contacted us. We are encouraged by the fact that this plant is in an excellent location and there is strong demand for manufacturing space in KCK. Unemployment is at an all-time low, and we are a national destination for business growth and attraction.
“Finally, we are committed to assisting every one of the 280 employees to find new quality jobs.”