New Manufacturing Norms Post COVID19
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What changes will manufacturing and industry sites now make as far as protecting their work forces from outside "elements"? Will all visitors wear masks, face shields, gowns, gloves, be denied access? Will measuring temperature readings become commonplace? Who bears the responsibility for compliance, costs for PPE? No more handshakes? Will employees still practice safe distancing? Meeting room sizes, face to face participants? All things to be (re)considered.

I'd be interested in hearing what insights you my manufacturing peers, can provide in regards to viewpoints, potential scale of impact to companies, business, manufacturing processes, and any new measures already be drafted/adopted.

Be safe all.
D.A.  
3 Replies
Hai Doan
21 Posts
A recent article mentioned that about 33% of participants in an Angus Reid survey expected they will work from home (WFH) more often after the pandemic.
https://globalnews.ca/news/7090216/coroanvirus-salary-changes/

However, I think this includes more industries than just manufacturing. I'm curious if/how manufacturing companies have implemented work from home procedures for manufacturing and support staff. If you company has implemented WFH, do you think that option will exist after the pandemic is over?

Thank you for your time! Have a great day!

 
Garrett Derr
162 Posts
We have initiated taking employees temperature when they enter for their shift, mandatory wearing of masks and face shields, distancing, hand sanitizer stations at numerous points around the facility, additional portable hand wash stations, mandatory hand washing, clear plastic sneeze curtains around all work stations, limiting movement of personnel from area to area, and more.   Ralton detailed the benefits, notably the ability to stay in business so our employees continue to get a paycheck and that our customers get the products they need to keep our transportation infrastructure operating.
I believe one of the things that will come out of this is an increased agility of manufacturing companies to switch product production - even to additional markets such as medical.  Companies that are doing that during this crisis will come out of it stronger and in a better position as they restart "normal" product production again.

Couple of benefits from agile production:
1. Ability to stay in business
2. Ability to strengthen workforce (even cross-train and learn new skill sets)
3. Ability to be viewed as responsible corporate citizens
4. In this case, the ability to help with the health of the population

I do feel that some of the other elements you mentioned will also be adopted such as practicing of social distancing in office spaces and potential of redesigns of work stations on the plant floor.