LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- A refrigerator so popular--GE has to hire more workers to make it, and some suppliers cannot even keep the fridge in stock. GE had planned for this to happen--and it will need to go ahead an add a second shift to support demand for the new product.
It is a fridge that does more than store food. The design is not just sleek--it is smart. It will fill up your container of choice--hands free, and can give you hot water, too. But you won't find GE's latest model on Joe Dumstorf's showroom floor. "We're having problems getting the refrigeration right now because of the fact GE is trying to ramp up their production. As you can imagine all the bugs out of everything is difficult, but theyre accomplishing it."
Customers that want the latest model--have to wait weeks to get it. Luckily--a solution. GE will ramp up with production--hiring nearly 400 employees to make the new French Door-bottom freezer refrigerator line.
No need to apply. GE accepted more than 16,000 applications for jobs earlier this year. All new hires will be selected from that pool.
"We started showing the product to our customers and they have just been wowed." said GE spokeswoman Kim Freeman. "So we have anticipated the demand for the product so we're bringing on a 2nd shift. it'll be about 380 employees to hep us meet the demand we are anticipating."
The appeal doesn't just come from the appearance--but also--the name. "They actually come in here looking for GE. With Ge's presence in Louisville and the fact they're bringing so many new jobs into Louisville, everyone is kind of honing in on that fact and saying since they're helping us we're going to try and help them."
Dumstorf hopes new hires will mean more new models on his floor. "In the next 3-4 months. We'll be pretty much ramped up where we can get it pretty much the next day for a customer," said Dumstorf.
GE has hired 1,000 new employees this year after an 800-million dollar investment at Appliance Park.
In February, GE began producing a hybrid water heater at Appliance Park, which employs about 5,000 people.
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