This is an original article by Steve Cavolick of LRS IT Solutions.

The economic downturn from the Coronavirus has rewritten the rules of business and caused entire verticals to change direction overnight, and manufacturing is one of the industries that has morphed quickly in order to lead the country through the pandemic.

When demand exploded earlier this year for goods that sanitized and machines to help very sick people breathe, facilities that produced consumable alcohol switched to making anti-microbial gels and auto manufacturers stopped producing cars in order to build ventilators.

While the way we get the work done has undoubtedly changed, the business environment is just as demanding, competitive, and perhaps even more complicated than it was before the Coronavirus. It’s up to leaders to guide the workforce through these changing times to continue meeting production goals. 

Co-authored by Ed Huey and Mary Hallock.

In these unprecedented times manufacturers require a more formal approach to hazard assessment and work practices than in the past.

Some of you may have taken advantage of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Borrowers who took loans under the PPP and would like to request forgiveness of their loan must complete an application. On Friday, May 15 the US Treasury released the Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness application.

Part 5 of "The New Supply Chain" blog series by Mike Loquercio, Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management Expert.

As we see the country opening up cautiously and the beginnings of a phased approach to reviving manufacturing, now is not the time to return to the status quo.  We would all agree that manufacturing and the supply chain must be different – and will be different – but are unsure of what our future state might look like.

Given all our concerns with healthcare, social distancing, unemployment, the new workplace with remote learning and our economy, it’s easy to let the focus on supply chain fall to the back of the priority list.

This is an original article from the NIST Manufacturing Innovation Blog, written by Brian Hagas. 

Many organizations are maintaining or re-starting operations at their facility. Here are some guidelines that can help you ensure employee safety and proper machine and process startup as you resume operations:

When it comes to building rapport in conversations, the key is to keep it simple and listen, listen, listen! It is all about trust and relationships; companies do not do business with companies; people do business with people.

Known for their organic and kosher whiskey, gin, specialty spirits, and for being Chicago’s first distillery since prohibition era, KOVAL Distillery is one of many manufacturers who shifted operations to do their part in battling the current health crisis. Prior to COVID-19, federal laws prohibited distilleries like KOVAL from producing alcohol not meant for consumption. Given the dire situation today, the Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) temporarily lifted those regulations to allow companies to start producing hand sanitizer.