As we are aware, COVID-19 has affected businesses – small and large as well as affecting whole industries. Specifically, it has caused manufacturers to temporarily shut down, large conventions to get canceled and disruptions in the supply chain in the heavy equipment industry. Let’s take a closer look at what is happening during this crisis.
Heavy Equipment and Covid 19
Even though some manufacturers had to shut down temporarily, many have been able to continue business as usual. The most important thing is to keep employees safe and that is what these businesses are trying to do. Companies like John Deere and Komatsu have put extra precautions into practice like implementing social distancing, frequently sanitizing the workplace and allowing remote work where it is needed.
Although businesses have been affected, heavy equipment manufacturers are doing everything they can to keep their workers safe, continue production and even shift their focus towards making PPE equipment.
Being in the heavy equipment industry, one of the major things people look forward to are trade shows, conferences and seminars as an opportunity to see what is going on in the industry. With a lot of uncertainty, many conventions and conferences had to be postponed to next year or even canceled.
Although these events have had to be canceled, this gives more time for people who are interested in the heavy equipment industry to start a career in it! There are many schools across the country, including Heavy Equipment Colleges of America that offer programs specialized in heavy equipment and crane training. Through these programs, students have the ability to learn more about the industry and get hands-on experience.
This pandemic has also caused disruptions in the supply chain. The lockdown at the beginning of 2020 in China caused the restriction of the international movement of goods and supplies, hence halting production everywhere else. However, as we continue to move forward and find solutions, the heavy equipment industry is expected to see production back to normal (seeing as some companies are still working as usual).
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Now although industries have been hit hard and we have seen some of the reasons why for the heavy equipment industry, companies are still fighting through and trying to make the best out of the situation.
The production of many PPE materials has taken the focus of many manufacturing companies. Some efforts that have come from many companies across the United States include:
- PPE donations to health-care facilities
- Production of approximately 18,000 protective face shields for use by factory employees
- Employee volunteerism efforts to sew cloth masks
These are just some of the ways that even though the heavy equipment industry has seen disruption, manufacturers in the industry and providing relief to their workers and community.
Some other examples include: Volvo donating medical supplies to healthcare workers in two of its North American facilities as well as creating medical face shields. The Toro Company announced that it is giving $500,000 to assist families and communities worldwide that have been affected by the pandemic and Cummins had partnered with 3M to provide respirator filters.
Although there is a lot of unknown about when all of this will end, it is certain that industry leaders are doing the best they can to keep their respective industries afloat. The heavy equipment industry still has a lot of work, but through hard work and perseverance, we will see better days!
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