Jennifer Whitney10.01.07
3M Co. said Thursday it will layoff about half of the 500 employees at its manufacturing plant in Colombia, MO by next summer as it consolidates electronic flexible circuit operations in California and overseas.
The company said 200 hourly workers and 40 salaried positions would be affected as the company phases out its flexible circuits business in Columbia by June 30, moving those operations to Canoga Park, Calif., and Singapore.
Plant manager David Robinson said the employees would receive severance packages and assistance in finding new jobs.
'Our employees have done an outstanding job, but to continue improving our service and efficiency, we need to locate manufacturing closer to our customers,' Robinson said.
The 3M plant in Columbia will continue making electronic interconnects, medical diagnostic products and magnetic markers used in library security systems.
SOURCE: CNN/AP