The world as we know has dramatically changed. Just three months ago, things were fairly normal across the globe. At the moment, different countries are undergoing massive disruptions that have been caused by the Coronavirus. Many cities are in lockdown to try and prevent the spread of the virus. The number of cases has been going up since March and the United States is currently leading in the number of deaths caused by COVID-19. There is a shortage of critical equipment needed to curb the effects of the pandemic.
Governments around the world have been talking with manufacturers to shift their processes towards life-saving equipment. The manufacturing industry has yet to undergo such a challenge in the last century or so. This series of n95 masks for sale in bulk have been in demand for the last couple of weeks. Manufacturers such as Global Genesis have stepped up their game in response to the crisis and producing essential equipment and providing fast deliveries where they’re needed most. There are different ways manufacturers can help and some of them include:
Alternative Manufacturing Methods
There are some manufacturing processes that are under serious threat because of the lockdown. There are also those that have been overwhelmed with the demand because of the ongoing crisis. Some new technologies, especially those that deal with additive manufacturing can offer great agility and flexibility to deal with the virus.
Diverting Manufacturing
Times like this call for diverting manufacturing capacity. A company that normally makes commercial HVAC systems might be required to shift to making ventilators to cope with the shortages. Those that are in the business of making perfumes could be asked to make medical wipes instead. It is not common that this level of agility is witnessed in the manufacturing space, but engineers and innovators have to step up and come up with solutions on how to address the challenges that we’re currently facing. Technology and manufacturing teams are coming up with different ways of approaching the situation.
Robust Supply Chain Technology
The world is currently in need of a supply chain that is agile and robust where the assessment of the disruption can be measured in real-time. If there is an issue, there will be a backup plan in place to address the shortcomings. The only disadvantage is that a lot of the supply chains are not digitally enabled to keep up with the demand. Those that are flexible have adapted in order to keep up with the changes brought about by the disruption. For a company that is making critical equipment that is needed by healthcare workers, there should be facilitation to ensure that that the supply chain is robust enough to handle the demand. If there is an inconvenience, the company needs to respond in a timely fashion so that the chain is not being broken.
Coming Together
For a business, you can only go so far if you’re an individual. Manufacturers need to come together and share ideas on how to help with the current situation. Humans are the most creative and innovative when they’re working together as a team. Even those that are fierce competitors will need to work together during these trying times. It is recommended that businesses are reaching out more and talking to each other not only to help with the current pandemic but also to cushion the economic impact it has had on different industries.
The Role of Technology in the Fight Against Coronavirus
Having data on what we’re dealing with is essential for the decision making process. The White House launched the High Performing Computing Consortium which is to be used by researchers across the world in accessing critical information about the virus.
It is not clear how long the situation is going to last. Businesses are certainly preparing for tougher times. The shift in manufacturing capacity is one way to go to help with the supply of critical equipment needed to fight the virus. Anyone that is in the manufacturing space should be looking at ways of helping the situation.
Logistics has also become a major challenge as the world has been turned upside down. The airline industry alone is projected to lose $110 billion in revenues. There are airlines that are modifying passenger planes to help with the transportation of cargo which is a noble gesture. Even with the best planning, the next couple of months are going to be bumpy. We can only hope for the best.