How do you keep a factory running during the COVID-19 crisis? The main problem isn’t social distancing necessarily, but keeping workers motivated during the slowdown. That’s according to new research by money.co.uk, which spoke to 25 business leaders from the manufacturing industry to gain insights into how coronavirus has affected them.
Like many UK industries, manufacturing has of course been hit by the ripple effect of COVID-19. Uncertainty breeds caution, with many businesses forced to pause their operations at least temporarily. staggering 91% of the manufacturers interviewed reported a dip in output during lockdown restrictions, according to money.co.uk’s research.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the slump in output and general air of uncertainty, two thirds of the manufacturers admitted that staff productivity has been badly affected by the crisis. These sobering statistics go a long way to explaining why a massive 75% of the manufacturers interviewed had been forced to use the government furlough scheme to protect the livelihoods of their personnel in the longer term.
Changing work practices keep industry rolling
As well as this quantitative data, money.co.uk also gathered qualitative data from a sample group of UK manufacturers to find out how they continue to operate whilst still protecting their staff from the threat of COVID-19. The responses from the manufacturing community were as varied as they were illuminating.
At one end of the spectrum, a manufacturing plant boss said they had no choice but to “close all operations”. However, for one valve manufacturer, a can-do attitude of “masks and smiles” was proving enough to keep the wheels of industry rolling. For the vast majority of manufacturers though, working from home and rotational shift patterns for shop floor workers have proven the most effective measures.
“Those that have the possibility to work from home do so”, said one steam equipment manufacturer, “and those working from the manufacturing facility undergo a quick health screening prior to entering the building”. Elsewhere, other effective strategies included shielding over-60s, reduced staffing levels, split shifts, consolidated shipments and furloughing half the workforce at any one time.
Worries generally extend beyond the stress of money woes into more practical areas. These concerns ranged from “international shipment delays and costs” to “reduced air travel impacting cargo space availability”, as well as key contacts being unavailable through furlough and the constant pressure of trying to “do the right thing”.
The manufacturing sector has certainly displayed both resilience and adaptability. Let’s hope that we are now well on our way through and out of this unprecedented situation.
If however you are worried about your business’ financial position and cash flow, money.co.uk’s business interruption loan guide is useful to gain access to vital government aid during the COVID-19 crisis.
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