Fumbling Ford management finally voiced clear direction for the moment. Click to Enlarge.
Ford is pursuing a phased restart for its North America operations beginning 18 May 18. This includes restarting vehicle production in North America and bringing back the first wave of employees that are not able to do their jobs remotely. The ramp-up will be gradual. Employees able to work remotely will continue to do so until advised. (Ford Motor Posts -$2 Billion Q1 Loss)
While Ford shut down its plants around the globe in March, cash use has remained high because production supplier payables are about 45 days. The company’s cash outflow – it is claimed – will be substantially lower after early May as Ford pays down those payables. (UAW Pressure: Ford Further Postpones NA Production Restart, Ford Motor Maxes Out Lines of Credit)
“We’ve been working intently with state and federal governments, our union partners and a cross-section of our workforce to reopen our North American facilities,” claimed Jim Farley, Ford’s chief operating officer. (UAW Balks at Reopening Workplaces)
Ford initially refused a UAW request to shut down over to weekend of 16 March. Bowing to pressure from the UAW and with a belated portion of common sense and awareness of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ford Motor Company on 18 March said it would stop production at U.S., Canadian and Mexican manufacturing facilities after Thursday evening’s shifts through March 30 to thoroughly clean and sanitize the company’s plants.
The UAW had urged immediate closings the previous weekend, but Ford executives refused to do so during the formation of a Coronavirus Task Force along General Motors and Fiat Chrysler management.
Ford “temporarily closed” Michigan Assembly Plant (MAP) final assembly building on 18 March after an employee tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus and is thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting the building, as promised as part of the company’s coronavirus emergency response protocol. MAP will halt production initially Ford said through at March 30. That was subsequently pushed back.
In this phased restart, Ford’s North American parts depots will resume full operations on Monday 11 May. On 18 May, Ford’s North American assembly plants previously operating on three-shift patterns will return with two-shifts, most two-shift plants will return on one shift and most one-shift plants will operate on one shift. Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Flat Rock, Mich. and Oakville Assembly Complex in Oakville, Ont., are expected to resume production the week of 25 May on one shift. Components plants will restart production as needed to support this plan.
“We’ve developed these safety protocols in coordination with our union partners, especially the UAW, and we all know it will take time to adjust to them,” claimed Gary Johnson, Ford’s Chief Manufacturing and Labor Officer.
Ford is implementing a staggered approach to bring back approximately 12,000 “location-dependent” employees who are not able to do their jobs remotely, involving functions such as product development, IT, facilities management and more. The staggered approach, it is claimed, allows “Ford to effectively implement new safety protocols and provide proper personal protective equipment (PPE) for all employees as they return to work.”
To guide the workforce with the new health and safety protocols, Ford has compiled a Manufacturing Return to Work Playbook to help protect its workforce. Some of the safety protocols include:
- Daily online employee and visitor health self-certifications completed before work every day. Employees or visitors who indicate they may have symptoms or may have been exposed to the virus will be told not to come to Ford facilities.
- No-touch temperature scans upon arrival – anyone with a raised temperature will not be permitted to enter and will need to be cleared of symptoms before returning to work.
- Required face masks for everyone entering a Ford facility. Every Ford team member will be provided a care kit including face masks and other items to help keep them healthy and comfortable at work.
- Safety glasses with side shields or face shields will be required when jobs do not allow for social distancing.
- There will be more time between production shifts to limit interaction between employees and allow for additional cleaning.
Ford is producing face masks at Van Dyke Transmission Plant for use at its facilities across North America and face shields at its Troy Design & Manufacturing facility in Plymouth, Mich. Company-provided face masks will be required for anyone working at a Ford site, in line with the company’s global protocols, while safety glasses or face shields will be required in some instances.
Ford to Begin Phased Restart in North America 18 May
Fumbling Ford management finally voiced clear direction for the moment. Click to Enlarge.
Ford is pursuing a phased restart for its North America operations beginning 18 May 18. This includes restarting vehicle production in North America and bringing back the first wave of employees that are not able to do their jobs remotely. The ramp-up will be gradual. Employees able to work remotely will continue to do so until advised. (Ford Motor Posts -$2 Billion Q1 Loss)
While Ford shut down its plants around the globe in March, cash use has remained high because production supplier payables are about 45 days. The company’s cash outflow – it is claimed – will be substantially lower after early May as Ford pays down those payables. (UAW Pressure: Ford Further Postpones NA Production Restart, Ford Motor Maxes Out Lines of Credit)
“We’ve been working intently with state and federal governments, our union partners and a cross-section of our workforce to reopen our North American facilities,” claimed Jim Farley, Ford’s chief operating officer. (UAW Balks at Reopening Workplaces)
Ford initially refused a UAW request to shut down over to weekend of 16 March. Bowing to pressure from the UAW and with a belated portion of common sense and awareness of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ford Motor Company on 18 March said it would stop production at U.S., Canadian and Mexican manufacturing facilities after Thursday evening’s shifts through March 30 to thoroughly clean and sanitize the company’s plants.
The UAW had urged immediate closings the previous weekend, but Ford executives refused to do so during the formation of a Coronavirus Task Force along General Motors and Fiat Chrysler management.
Ford “temporarily closed” Michigan Assembly Plant (MAP) final assembly building on 18 March after an employee tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus and is thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting the building, as promised as part of the company’s coronavirus emergency response protocol. MAP will halt production initially Ford said through at March 30. That was subsequently pushed back.
In this phased restart, Ford’s North American parts depots will resume full operations on Monday 11 May. On 18 May, Ford’s North American assembly plants previously operating on three-shift patterns will return with two-shifts, most two-shift plants will return on one shift and most one-shift plants will operate on one shift. Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Flat Rock, Mich. and Oakville Assembly Complex in Oakville, Ont., are expected to resume production the week of 25 May on one shift. Components plants will restart production as needed to support this plan.
“We’ve developed these safety protocols in coordination with our union partners, especially the UAW, and we all know it will take time to adjust to them,” claimed Gary Johnson, Ford’s Chief Manufacturing and Labor Officer.
Ford is implementing a staggered approach to bring back approximately 12,000 “location-dependent” employees who are not able to do their jobs remotely, involving functions such as product development, IT, facilities management and more. The staggered approach, it is claimed, allows “Ford to effectively implement new safety protocols and provide proper personal protective equipment (PPE) for all employees as they return to work.”
To guide the workforce with the new health and safety protocols, Ford has compiled a Manufacturing Return to Work Playbook to help protect its workforce. Some of the safety protocols include:
Ford is producing face masks at Van Dyke Transmission Plant for use at its facilities across North America and face shields at its Troy Design & Manufacturing facility in Plymouth, Mich. Company-provided face masks will be required for anyone working at a Ford site, in line with the company’s global protocols, while safety glasses or face shields will be required in some instances.