At Whirlpool, we believe that innovative thinking comes from anyone and anywhere within our company.  That's why, in 1999, we launched a worldwide effort to instill innovation as a core competency throughout our organization.  Since then, Whirlpool people worldwide have participated in and contributed to innovation-related activities that have resulted in new ideas, products and services that deliver real value to our consumers in ways never before seen in either our company or our industry.