August 10, 2020 How Manufacturers Hurt by COVID Can Get Back on Track

5 ways manufacturers can try to get back to work after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has, of course, created incredible, worldwide disruption, devastating millions of lives and costing the economy trillions of dollars. These impacts have been felt far and wide, including the manufacturing sector, which has been hit hard by the pandemic.

As time passes, more and more manufacturers are attempting to develop ways to get their business back on track. As such, here are five ways that manufacturers can try to get back to work.

Safely attend trade shows: If it is at all possible, start to attend trade shows in a safe manner. This may not be possible in certain areas, but it will be again soon. As such, it is best to start preparing now. This may mean that you have to revamp traditional display lines and purchase new equipment. For example, buying a set of durable custom tents to use for trade shows is an absolute must. If physical attendance isn’t possible, make sure to check out what sort of virtual trade shows now exist and how you can leverage those appearances to turn them into great ways of promoting what you manufacture.

Develop your safety plan: For reasons of morality, legality, and economics, working to ensure the safety of your employees and customers must be your priority. Before you can truly restart your manufacturing efforts, ask what actions you have undertaken to get your facilities up and running again safely. Have you installed physical barriers? Are you doing worker health screenings? What about ensuring physical separation and proper cleaning of your entire facilities?

Have a plan for when there is exposure: Remember, part of getting your business up and running again means preparing for the worst. So, do you know what will happen to you and your business if you have a confirmed COVID-19 case? Do you have the communication plans in place to immediately reach out to your staff and make sure that they know when they have to get into quarantine? Do you have the resources available to help your team get tested if need be? These steps are vital to the long-term sustainability of your business, as you can’t manufacture goods if your staff is sick or doesn’t have the confidence to come into work.

A robust digital presence: Travel and tradition marketing, of course, have been massively disrupted by COVID-19. This means that you have to be able and willing to meet and market in very different ways than you are used to doing. To that end: Do you have the technology to hold sales calls via digital means? Can you give major presentations, webinars, and conferences over the internet? Can you provide tours of your manufacturing floor digitally? This is the new normal for the time being, and the best thing you can do is be prepared for it.

Monitor ongoing developments: One of the biggest challenges in this COVID world is monitoring developments. Things can be excellent in one section of the world one week, and then there could be a significant outbreak the next. Make sure that you are plugged into all relevant news or data sources to watch for COVID outbreaks. This will give you the chance to react accordingly and alter your manufacturing or shipping plans if need be.

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