We all know the global economy is bad, consumers have less money to spend, fewer computers are sold, and thus less CPUs are needed putting Intel and other chipmakers in a bad spot. Intel has announced that it will begin measures that will help it face the challenging economy in America.

Intel says that it will consolidate its manufacturing operations by cutting its capacity to match the current economy. In other words, it’s cutting production and doing so by closing up some of its older tech manufacturing plants.

Among the plants to be closed are one in Penang, Malaysia, one in Cavite, Philippines, and an older 200mm wafer fab in Hillsboro, Oregon. Another wafer plant called D2 in Santa Clara will be closed as well. Intel says that the closures will not affect its new 45nm plants or the 32nm plants it has planned. Up to 6000 employees will be out of a job with the consolidation.

Intel