Factory fallout: Manufacturing plant closures and layoffs from ConocoPhillips, Rivian, Saputo Cheese, and more

With political winds changing and global markets tightening, manufacturers are making tough decisions—and workers are feeling the impact. In this roundup, we chronicle the closures and cutbacks reverberating throughout the manufacturing sector. As uncertainty becomes the new normal, we examine how businesses and workers alike are navigating a rapidly changing industrial landscape.

According to Reuters, ConocoPhillips announced plans to cut up to 25% of its workforce as part of a broad restructuring aimed at reducing costs. Thousands of layoffs are set to begin as early as November 10, with employees first notified during a town hall meeting at the company’s Houston headquarters. In a recent quote, Ryan Lance, CEO, said he had prioritized recent acquisitions over controlling costs. "The cost and the whole competitiveness of the company probably took a backseat to those initiatives and those things we were doing for very real reasons, important reasons for the company. … I fault myself for not paying attention and keeping the other things sort of centered and important." The reductions come as the company seeks to address rising costs and maintain competitiveness following recent acquisitions. 
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According to TechCrunch, electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian is laying off around 150 workers, marking its second staff reduction in recent months. The company confirmed that most of the cuts are from its commercial team, which handles sales and service operations, though affected employees are eligible to reapply for other positions. Rivian previously cut about 1% of its workforce in June, targeting its manufacturing team, and has made several workforce reductions over the past two years. In a recent quote, a Rivian spokesperson said, “the new cuts were mostly to its ‘commercial’ team, which deals with sales and service operations, and that affected employees will be eligible for rehire and encouraged to apply for other open positions.” 
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According to the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Saputo Cheese USA Inc. will close its Suamico manufacturing plant in December, resulting in 240 layoffs. Phased layoffs will begin in November and continue through December, with all employees at the 13190 Velp Ave. facility already notified. The closure is part of a plan to consolidate operations by moving packaging work from Suamico to a new facility in Franklin, which will create more than 650 jobs in southeastern Wisconsin. In a recent quote, Lino A. Saputo, Chair of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "The strategic initiatives we are announcing today are designed to reinforce the competitiveness of our operations in an evolving global food industry.” 
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According to Here Greenville, PL Developments, a New York-based manufacturer of over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, will lay off 114 employees at its Piedmont, SC factory by the end of October 2025. The job cuts follow an earlier round of layoffs in January that affected 113 workers at the company’s Clinton, SC facility. In a recent quote, Charles Cain, general counsel and chief administrative officer for PL Developments, said, "The layoffs are a response to an overall decline in consumer demand impacting pharmaceutical manufacturers nationwide." The Piedmont layoffs will also coincide with the elimination of weekend shifts, though 50 new weekday positions will be created for affected workers to apply for. 
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According to MassDevice, Dexcom, a leading maker of continuous glucose monitors, will permanently lay off 319 employees at its San Diego facility on Sequence Drive, effective Nov. 3, 2025. The cuts represent about 3.1% of the company’s global workforce and follow an earlier decision to eliminate more than 500 San Diego manufacturing positions as operations shifted to Mesa, Arizona. In a recent quote, Kevin Sayer, Chair, President and CEO of Dexcom, said, "As we expand globally and grow production capacity in locations closer to our customers, these difficult decisions are necessary to ensure Dexcom remains positioned for long-term success." 
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