Manufacturing powering purpose and progress

By Guy Mills, Vice President, Supply Chain Strategy and Technology – Supply Chain

Manufacturing played a pivotal role in the journey of Black Americans during the Great Migration from the 1910s to the 1970s. As millions sought refuge and opportunity in Northern and Midwestern cities, the sector offered not just jobs but a pathway to economic stability and upward mobility. This rich history has long fueled my fascination with manufacturing.

An economic engine for the U.S., manufacturing creates jobs, enables partnerships with suppliers that broaden the impact, and drives community engagement. We’re proud to be part of a national movement building excitement around manufacturing careers and helping communities thrive.

The heart of manufacturing for Clorox is undoubtedly our people.

Across our global network, our teammates bring pride, precision, and purpose to their work every day. Their commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement enables us to deliver essential, high-quality products to millions of households worldwide.

Our manufacturing teammates also play a key role in moving us forward. Because innovation is often driven by the people closest to the work, many of our most impactful ideas come directly from the plant floor. Some of the innovations reflecting teammates’ ingenuity, ownership, and focus on the consumer include increasing line speed, enhancing safety, and improving product quality.

Driving work that’s faster and leaner is also an area where our manufacturing teammates excel. They’re using smart technologies to improve performance and unlock efficiencies across our operations. Many of these were made possible by our recent $500 million investment in our digital transformation.

Beyond the factory walls, manufacturing has a profound societal impact. Just as they did during the Great Migration, manufacturing careers continue to offer stable employment that opens the doors to leadership, growth, and economic advancement.

At Clorox, manufacturing also helps us live our purpose: “We champion people to be well and thrive every single day.” This starts with the health and safety of our teammates and extends to building a culture of inclusiveness and authenticity, where everyone can stretch, grow, and do their best work. It also means making the world around us healthier, cleaner, and safer.

Our teammates are not just powering our plants; they’re powering the future of our company, our communities, and our world.