Major US automotive manufacturers have officially restarted their factories this week, implementing major operational changes to protect their workers from contracting or spreading the coronavirus. On Monday, Ford, Fiat Chrysler, and General Motors confirmed the reopening of their manufacturing plants in the US.
Ford announced that around 80 percent of its workers, or roughly around 59,000 personnel, will be returning to work starting on Monday. GM revealed that around 15,000 out of its 48,000 workers will be coming in this week, with more workers expected to return as it ramps up production. Meanwhile, Fiat Chrysler stated that only a third of its workers will be returning starting on Monday.
All three companies revealed that they have taken appropriate measures to protect their workers, which means that people will be returning to completely different working environments than what they were used to. Ford CEO Jim Hackett mentioned in an interview that they had worked really hard to transform their facilities to conform to the new normal brought about by the pandemic. This includes strict implementation of physical distancing, which eliminates or radically changes some production processes.
For added protection, workstations have been installed with clear plastic separators. Workers will be required to wear surgical-style masks and face shields at all times. Ford is currently experimenting with a wearable device that warns its users if they are getting to close to another worker. Public or common areas, such as cafeterias and lounges, were also altered to conform with new physical distancing guidelines.
The three companies have also stated that they will be conducting frequent disinfections throughout their factories on top of increased sanitation measures. At Ford, shifts had to be altered to allow extra time for disinfection. For Fiat Chrysler, the company allocated an extra 10 minutes between each shift to allow for cleaning.
Extra safety and screening measures have also been implemented, including temperature checks for all employees entering the facilities. People found to have high temperatures or sporting Covid-19 symptoms will automatically be sent to medical facilities for testing. Only those who have come up negative will be allowed to return to work.
Most of the practices and measures implemented in the US factories mirrored those that were made in the company's overseas plants, particularly those that had already reopened in Europe and Asia.
GM's vice president for global safety, Jim Glynn, noted that automotive manufacturing plants will definitely look different in the future. He added that all of their new designs now take into account new physical distancing guidelines. Another pandemic will likely occur, he warned, which is why companies should make sure that they are better prepared.
