Now and in the years ahead, manufacturers will be asked ‘what was your COVID-19 strategy?’ True enough, industry leaders will reflect to this pivotal time in their forward trajectory to celebrate team accomplishments which ushered in a faster push towards urgent transitions in manufacturing.
As the Automotive industry continues to increase activity after the pandemic shutdown, it is fitting to recognize the great efforts of our employees. We are proud of the work we have done to support the frontlines in the COVID-19 fight through new ad hoc groups formed to take immediate action. The great cross-company, cross-industry achievements stand testimony to the values of cooperative effort we hold close.
Working remotely and masked while socially distanced, dlhBOWLES employees pivoted to adapt our manufacturing capabilities and answer the need for ventilator and respirator parts supplying General Motors and Ford respectively.
In late March and early April, we partnered with General Motors (GM) to supply parts for the Ventec Life Systems VOCSN ventilator. Chairman and CEO Mary Barra shared the GM strategy on what was learned during their COVID-19 response and how the automaker intends to use that ‘ventilator fast’ strategy : Move from asking why to asking what can we do: https://s.gm.com/hmzp2.
During this same time frame, dlhBOWLES also partnered with Ford to produce the 3M Versaflo™ respirator flow indicator tube assembly. In a moment’s notice Ford took American ingenuity and manufacturing capability and put it to work: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ford-motor-company/.
Both projects retained many of the same team of individuals responsible for implementing a new workflow. Shattering paradigms and pushing our limits, dlhBOWLES proved to have the dynamic chameleon-like capability to change amid our industry’s environment. To our strategic and manufacturing teams, and all who supported us: Thank you!
References:
Apple. (n.d.). Apple Podcasts Preview. GM’s Mary Barra: “Deep, profound sadness and going ventilator fast.” Retrieved from https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1507293907?i=1000477842389
Bigelow, P. (April 26, 2020). dlhBowles is finding innovative solutions to a dirty problem. Automotive News. Retrieved from https://www.autonews.com/shift/dlhbowles-finding-innovative-solutions-dirty-problem