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Daimler AG Mercedes Benz vehicles move along the production line at the company’s international assembly plant in Vance, Alabama.
Luke Sharrett | Bloomberg | fake pictures
Mercedes-Benz reopened its U.S. plant this week in Alabama, becoming one of the first manufacturers to resume operations since the coronavirus pandemic stopped car production across the country last month.
Depending on how the reopening goes, it could help other automakers in efforts to reopen their home plants in the coming weeks and months. If successful, it could be a benchmark for the industry. If not, you can have others reconsider your processes and timing.
Daimler, the owner of Mercedes-Benz, said he took “sound safety measures and best practices” to ensure that the reopening of the plant was safe for its 4,200 workers producing the Mercedes-Benz GLE, GL and GLE Coupe SUVs.
New protocols to reduce the spread of the virus include the mandatory use of face masks, temperature controls at the entrance and separation of employees in rest rooms, cafeterias and common areas.
“The health and safety of our team members are a top priority at Mercedes-Benz,” the company said in an emailed statement. “During our closure, we have monitored and learned from other Mercedes-Benz plants around the world when they returned to work.”
The automaker has increased disinfection measures and continues to allow employees who can work from home to reduce traffic at the plant, located near Tuscaloosa.
A Daimler spokesman declined to comment on how many employees returned to work this week, how the company determined which workers would return and whether or not there was a problem with absenteeism.
Only one of the plant’s three shifts of workers was initially called on Monday when the plant increases production and security measures are implemented.
In the coming weeks, Daimler said, he hopes “to gradually add additional team members to start operating at full production volume.” The reopening came a week after the company resumed operations at a US commercial vehicle plant. USA
The measures are similar to what other automakers have said they plan to do to reopen their facilities, most of which have been closed due to the coronavirus pandemic from mid to late March.
Daimler said he also obtained guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and compared safety best practices with other groups such as the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce, the Alabama Automobile Manufacturers Association and the Alliance for Innovation. Automotive.
The windows of the Daimler AG corporate headquarters in Untertürkheim are illuminated.
image alliance | image alliance | fake pictures
“We will continue to monitor federal and state guidelines and regulations during this acceleration period, and make changes as necessary to ensure the safety of our team members and ensure the required production capabilities of the highly demanded SUV models leaving Alabama. “the company said.
Volkswagen, General Motors, Ford Motor and Fiat Chrysler have indefinitely extended their plant closings in the United States. Detroit automakers have been in talks with the United Auto Workers union for weeks to reopen their plants.
Toyota Motor, Hyundai Motor and Honda Motor are among the automakers planning to reopen American factories in the next week or so. Nissan Motor, after several postponements, expects to restart production in mid-May.
