Toshiba plans to close three semiconductor plants in Japan and transfer approximately 1,700 employees by the end of September 2012, Bloomberg reported on November 30, 2011. Toshiba's moves are projected to boost the company's competitiveness amid strong yen. Toshiba said that it will consolidate operations of the three plants to be closed into three other existing plants and focus on the production of the three major facilities. It is reported that Toshiba will increase 8-inch wafer production line and cut the production of 6-inch wafer.