There’s hardly any sector that coronavirus hasn’t adversely affected.And the manufacturing industry is not an exception. What’s so debilitating about manufacturing on halt is hundreds of jobs could be placed in jeopardy. Multiply that on the whole American landscape, and you know things are hanging in the balance.
The manufacturing business is one of the major sectors in the economy, with a16% Gross Domestic Product globally. That’s a lot. But due to the COVID-19 outbreak, some companies decided to close their factories temporarily. This is because of the falling demand and many government restrictions. Still, some companies have already adapted and have been increasing in profit and productivity.
As companies slowly reopen, it is important to focus on emerging stronger for the next few years. To do so, prioritizing safety solutions and long-term health should be at the top of your list. And here are some primary steps you can take to increase your company’s productivity while keeping everyone out of harm’s way.
Keep Your Employees Safe As Possible
The rising threat of pandemic has become a challenge for manufacturers. That’s especially because factories cannot process without workers present. It’s as simple as that. For this reason, the safety and health of the employees should first and foremost be the top priority. Or you’d be shooting yourself in the foot if you don’t.
To limit exposure, you should consider having scheduled skeleton crews work in shifts. You should also get the same employees on individual crews and limit to just a few managers working at every shift.
Moreover, you should adjust your workspace so that you don’t encourage groupings and virus infection. A good way to do this is to install high-speed roll-up doors. By doing so, you diminish the risk of people waiting at the door, grouping and touching one another.
If your facility is big, make sure you install washing stations. That way, workers can rid themselves of the virus every time. Washing of hands is considered a vital protocol to contain the virus, CDC recommends.
Exercising flexibility is the key to help lower down the risk of spreading the virus. And to prevent workers from getting quarantined.
The Use of Power Automation in Manufacturing
For better quality control and monitoring, the use of power automation can free employees from repetitive operations. For one, intelligent automation helps in enabling factories with limited capacities to run smoothly just by using machines with remote monitoring. This alone has been very beneficial to the manufacturing industry.
In addition to that, AI is also helpful to automate better visual quality control during productions. The use of AI-enabled software and smart cameras helps manufacturers achieve better quality inspections than human inspectors. This technology came at the best timing, especially because of the social distancing rules that companies need to follow 24/7.
Be Innovative And Be Open To Change
Compared to pre-pandemic times, doing things the usual way may not be the best thing to do right now. The drastic change caused by the pandemic has made manufacturers more innovative in their operations. For example, many manufacturing employees are still working on site. But the use of 3D printers might make it work to produce products and goods while reducing the risk of exposure.
You should also consider changing new production goals and modes. Nowadays, many distilleries have been converting their alcoholic drinks into disinfectants. Due to the high demand for shipping boxes, paper producers and manufacturers are also producing cardboard and making more to-go boxes. So that restaurants that have been temporarily or permanently closed could use this for closure.
Even the slightest alteration can make a big difference to the way you operate your business. You need to produce products that are essential to the community. Do that, and you should be able to reap the fruits of your labor in the long run.
