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Ford Reduces North America Production to Help Keep Workforce Safe, Boosting Coronavirus Containment Efforts
  • Production at Ford’s U.S., Canadian and Mexican manufacturing facilities will be halted after Thursday evening’s shifts through March 30 to thoroughly clean and sanitize the company’s plants
  • UAW and Ford leaders will work together on how to best structure plant restart plans – along with health and safety procedures aimed at helping keep the workforce safe
  • Ford is taking additional production-related actions as the American government restricts travel and personal contact, affecting vehicle sales and component suppliers throughout the country. Pandemic conditions, national restrictions, supplier constraints and dealer stock requirements will be continually re-evaluated
DEARBORN, Mich., March 18, 2020 – Following Thursday evening shifts, Ford is temporarily suspending production at its manufacturing sites in North America through March 30 to thoroughly clean its facilities to protect its workforce and boost containment efforts for the COVID-19 coronavirus.

“We’re continuing to work closely with union leaders, especially the United Auto Workers, to find ways to help keep our workforce healthy and safe – even as we look at solutions for continuing to provide the vehicles customers really want and need,” said Kumar Galhotra, Ford’s president of North America. “In these unprecedented times, we’re exploring unique and creative solutions to support our workforce, customers, dealers, suppliers and communities.”

UAW and Ford leaders will work together in the coming weeks on plant restart plans as well as exploring additional protocols and procedures for helping prevent the spread of the virus. Chief among them: finding ways to maximize social distancing among plant workers – both during work hours and at shift change, when large numbers of people typically gather at entry and exit points and maximizing cleaning times between shift changes.

“Today’s action is the prudent thing to do. By taking a shutdown and working through next steps, we protect UAW members, their families and the community,” said Rory Gamble, president of the UAW. “We have time to review best practices when the plants reopen, and we prevent the possible spread of this pandemic. We commend Ford for working with us and taking this bold step.”

Ford temporarily closed Michigan Assembly Plant (MAP) final assembly building this morning 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 through March 30.

In addition, the company will instruct people who have had direct contact with that infected employee to self-quarantine and get medical attention. Those who have had close contact to those who have had direct contact are asked watch for symptoms and seek medical attention if they feel unwell.

The move to temporarily close plants follows Sunday’s news that Ford leaders are forming a Coronavirus Task Force along with UAW, General Motors Co. and Fiat Chrysler leaders to implement enhanced protections for manufacturing and warehouse employees at all three companies. Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford and President and CEO Jim Hackett, UAW President Rory Gamble, GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra, and FCA CEO Michael Manley are leading the task force. The three companies formed a similar task force in Canada.

“Together, we’ll continue finding solutions and best practices that help keep workers at our plants and parts distribution centers healthy and safe throughout our operations,” said Gary Johnson, chief manufacturing and labor affairs officer.

In addition, Ford vehicle manufacturing sites in Cologne and Saarlouis in Germany, together with the Craiova facility in Romania, will temporarily halt production starting Thursday. Ford’s Valencia assembly and engine facility in Spain already temporarily halted production from Monday, after three workers were confirmed with coronavirus over the past weekend.

On Monday, Ford asked all salaried employees – except those performing business critical roles that can’t be done off site – to work remotely until further notice.

“Especially in these challenging times, we must continue working together and putting people first,” Galhotra said.

https://media.ford.com/content/ford...ca-production-to-help-keep-workforce-saf.html
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Broncitis

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Probably not too much since the Bronco production tooling isn't near ready for that plant yet.

The only Broncos being built are in the Allen Park Pilot Plant. I wouldn't expect production tooling to be in place at the Wayne Truck Plant for months after this is projected to be largely past us.
 

Rogues Gambit

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Shit is fucked up and about to get a whole lot worse.

Still not worried about it, this is nothing like the incident in Racoon City.

It'll be over soon enough, for now, we just wait, save up $$$$ and get ready to put down a deposit once it's revealed
 

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Carolina Jim

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Shit is fucked up and about to get a whole lot worse.
Easy to shut down...hard to envision what triggers an 'all clear'. Life in a respirator might be the new normal for a year till vaccines ready.
 

Southern Girl

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I just heard on the news that the President asked Ford and Chevy to halt production for a while for social distancing.
 

EvlNvrDys

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Shit is fucked up and about to get a whole lot worse.
My take on it is simple. It's a lot of fear at this point. The flu has infected & killed more people. The swine flu from years ago didn't get this much media attention and we didn't freak out back then. It tends to effect "older" people with underlying conditions to a greater degree. Some people get it and feel just fine a couple days later.

If we all washed our hands, stayed home from work when sick, this wouldn't be half as bad as it's being made out to be. But of course this leads back to my post in the "gripe" thread... People annoy me... and if I may add to that, STUPID people annoy me. Stop with the hysteria, be safe, and we'll all be fine.... well most of us anyways. ;)

And with that said... we need more leaks!!! Stat!!!!
 

PNW_Bronco94

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Still not worried about it, this is nothing like the incident in Racoon City.

It'll be over soon enough, for now, we just wait, save up $$$$ and get ready to put down a deposit once it's revealed
This IS the incident in Raccoon City, except it escaped and has spread across the globe. Regardless of its lethality, the immense damage it has caused and will cause to the global economy has already been set in motion. I'm with Nick - we haven't even scratched the surface yet.
 

PNW_Bronco94

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My take on it is simple. It's a lot of fear at this point. The flu has infected & killed more people. The swine flu from years ago didn't get this much media attention and we didn't freak out back then. It tends to effect "older" people with underlying conditions to a greater degree. Some people get it and feel just fine a couple days later.
The problem is that the virus itself is only part of the problem. It may be nothing, or it may be a huge public health crisis. But the economic and societal fallout may dwarf it.

Edit to stay on topic: Complete shutdown of all auto production is one example of such ripple effects.
 

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Nickp

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The big ripple effect is hospital capacity. If hospitals fill up with thousands of covid patients how are they going to take care of other patients?
 

Rogues Gambit

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This IS the incident in Raccoon City, except it escaped and has spread across the globe. Regardless of its lethality, the immense damage it has caused and will cause to the global economy has already been set in motion. I'm with Nick - we haven't even scratched the surface yet.
Ford Bronco Ford Temporarily Halts North American Production 1584563060672

Ford Bronco Ford Temporarily Halts North American Production 1584563068373


True, the dead haven't risen yet
 

Stampede.Offroad

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There are only so many choices when capacity is insufficient.

You might get a few extra clinics or whatever pop up, but those and respirators can only be built so quickly.

It was suggested that places like auto manufacturers start making medical equipment instead, but by the time they retooled it would be too late. For this one anyway.

I'm curious how long the shutdown will be and who will push hardest to lift it. A week or two isn't going to accomplish much -- but most people are too fiscally irresponsible to be able to support themself for a few weeks without income, let alone months.

And the whole thing about cleaning the plant is a farce. This class of pathogen doesn't last that long on surfaces or in the air anyway. It's the hundreds of people who got exposed to the infected person who will be contagious for the next 2-3 weeks.
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