Shaw Industries is working to centralize operations for its Shaw Living division, including some processes that currently take place in Calhoun.

The change will move all Shaw Living operations to the company’s Ringgold plant. It is designed to allow processes for Shaw Living products, from design to distribution, to be “centrally located,” according to Herb Upton, Director of Operations for Shaw Living.

Shaw Living, the company’s rug division, is consolidating rug manufacturing operations including tufting to the Ringgold plant, he said. Research and development and sales group operations will also move there.

Some of these positions belong to employees housed in Calhoun’s Shaw locations.

Upton said he has “a high degree” of confidence that employees who wish to stay in the Gordon County area can be placed in another Shaw location here.

He said the transition will take place over time, giving these employees the opportunity to examine their options.

This change marks the second phase of Shaw Living’s rug consolidation plans.

In the first phase last year, rug distribution was consolidated at the Ringgold facility.

All manufacturing equipment from other sites will now be moved to this state-of-the-art plant over the next several months.

“This move will be a significant benefit to our customers, as it will improve our time to market and customer service,” Upton said.” All of our Shaw Living assets, including R&D, design, manufacturing, sales and distribution, will now be centrally located. This undertaking demonstrates our continued commitment to improving our position as a world-class supplier of machine-made woven and tufted rugs.”