Royal Philips cuts jobs at Andover healthcare unit

Royal Philips Electronics NV's healthcare unit, based in Andover, said it cut 5 percent of its workforce this week, or 1,600 jobs worldwide, including fewer than 100 in Andover .

Company spokesman Ian Race said the cuts were needed to streamline its management and make it more responsive to customers. He said the affected workers will be offered severance packages.

The Dutch conglomerate has about 4,300 workers in Massachusetts, including nearly 3,000 in the healthcare unit alone, making it one of the state's larger employers. Philips Healthcare has about 35,000 workers worldwide.
(By Todd Wallack, Globe staff)