Pfizer will close eight plants in the U.S., Ireland and Puerto Rico by 2015 as part of measures designed to “reconfigure” its global plant network.
 
The world’s biggest drugmaker is “reconfiguring”, or restructuring, manufacturing following its acquisition of smaller rival Wyeth last year.
 
“The planned reductions will increase manufacturing efficiency and lower costs by more effectively using resources and technology, improving plant processes, eliminating excess capacity, and better aligning production with market demand. These changes will result in a global reduction of approximately 6,000 jobs over the next several years,” a Pfizer statement said.
 
It said operations will also be reduced at six other plants in Britain, Germany, Ireland, Puerto Rico and the U.S. and that the move would “create a fully aligned manufacturing and supply organization from the combined networks of Pfizer and Wyeth.”
 
“The restructuring of our global plant network is critical to our efforts to remain competitive so that we can continue to meet patient needs and expand the access and affordability of our medicines,” Pfizer Global Manufacturing President Nat Ricciardi explained. “Nevertheless, today’s announcement is very difficult to make because of its impact on our colleagues.”
 
He said it was vital Pfizer continued to adjust to “the fast-changing and extremely competitive” environment in which it operates.
 
Job cuts were expected as part of the Wyeth integration.
 
SOURCE: Pfizer
 
Edited by Ellie Duncan