Pfizer Global Manufacturing is restructuring its worldwide plant network in an effort to align its manufacturing and supply organization following the acquisition of Wyeth. The first phase includes shutting down operations at eight manufacturing sites in Ireland, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. by the end of 2015, with additional plans to reduce operations at six other plants in Germany, Ireland, PR, the UK, and the U.S. As a result, 6,000 jobs will be cut during the next several years.

“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,” said Pfizer Global Manufacturing President Nat Ricciardi.

The company will discontinue manufacturing operations at three solid-dose sites: Caguas in PR, Loughbeg in Ireland, and Rouses Point, NY. The company also plans to phase out pharmaceutical solid-dose manufacturing at Guayama, PR and expand consumer healthcare operations at this site. Two aseptic facilities in Dublin, Ireland and Carolina, PR, will close and reductions are planned at two other solid-dose facilities: Illertissen, Germany and Newbridge, Ireland.

Pfizer plans to exit operations in Shanbally, Ireland, as well as biotechnology manufacturing in Pearl River, NY. Reductions will be made at plants in Sanford, NC, Andover, MA, and Havant in the UK. Additionally, the company will cease production of consumer healthcare products at its plants in Richmond, VA and Pearl River. The Pearl River site will remain Pfizer’s Center of Excellence for Vaccine R&D and consumer healthcare R&D will continue in Richmond.

Pfizer’s solid-dose network will include plants in Freiburg, Germany, Amboise, France, Vega Baja and Barceloneta, PR, Ascoli, Italy, Newbridge, Ireland, and Illertissen, Germany. Plants in Puurs, Belgium, Perth, Australia, Catania, Italy, and Kalamazoo, MI will comprise the aseptic network. The biotechnology network will consist of sites in Grange Castle, Ireland, Strangnas, Sweden, Algete, Spain, Havant, UK, and Andover, MA and Sanford, NC. The Consumer Healthcare network will include plants in Guayama, PR, Montreal, Canada, Albany, GA, Aprilia, Italy, Hsinchu, Taiwan, and Suzhou, China.