The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has far-reaching consequences, not only for sick people. A lack of orders, delivery difficulties with materials or the implementation of new hygiene regulations can pose a challenge, especially for production. Very few companies are prepared for a pandemic of this kind. It is necessary to protect employees, secure jobs and maintain the competitiveness of the company. But how can this be achieved?
Support for companies is offered by the Institut für Integrierte Produktion Hannover (IPH) gGmbH with consulting services tailored to the crisis. These are also possible in the home office and can help small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in particular to emerge from the uncertain times stronger.
IPH engineers have developed a wide range of measures within a very short time. First of all, it is necessary to set priorities and define goals together. Depending on the company, methods such as Gemba-Walks, workshops or ABC-analyses are used for this purpose. In some cases even a so-called "disruption" can be considered, i.e. the development of completely new strategies and products.
Even companies that are not threatened by extinction can benefit from the knowledge of IPH engineers. In the current situation, especially when production comes to a standstill, specialists and executives have the chance to redistribute their working hours. This offers the opportunity to launch projects that have been in the pipeline for some time. Plans that would otherwise get lost in day-to-day business can now come into focus. Processes can be optimized, and the restart of production can be planned in the best possible way. "Thus, the current situation is also an opportunity and we want to help companies to take advantage of it," says IPH managing director Dr. Malte Stonis.
In order to avoid additional costs for ailing companies, public funding can be applied for. IPH has compiled an overview of this. Any interested company can discuss exactly what kind of concrete assistance could be provided in a free and non-binding preliminary talk with IPH engineers.
