Tata, Maruti Suzuki, Toyota, And Other Carmakers Reveal Game Plans To Restart Production In India

The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a 15-page order defining the lockdown and granting new exemptions. From April 20, essential manufacturing will be allowed to resume in some sectors with state-governed operating, hygiene, and safety procedures in place. Contingency plans are now being prepared by various carmakers for the eventual scenario once the lockdown is lifted. Here’s a look at some of the measures being undertaken by different automotive companies:

Toyota

Toyota Kirloskar Motors (TKM) has come up with a comprehensive manual, explaining the various protocols right from home to office to home again. Safety measures include declaring health status at home before office commute, use of masks, gloves and hand sanitizers, as well as changing canteen schedules and menus. The main protocol, of course, is to maintain social distancing at all times with specific canteen seating arrangements and group gatherings. Employees have also been advised to avoid physical meetings as much as possible. The company also has detailed protocols in place for when a positive coronavirus case is detected. 

Confederation of Indian Industry 

A similar set of guidelines have been issued by the Confederation of Indian Industry when it comes to protocols being enforced during a working day. Other measures include regular disinfection of company vehicles and the entire premises as well as awareness camps for all employees from the plant to the housekeeping staff. External visits have been cancelled until further notice.

Maruti Suzuki 

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Maruti Suzuki’s plan is a bit more detailed with measures such as mandatory thermal screening and passing through disinfectant tunnels before entry. Other protocols include only 50 per cent office employees in shifts and alternate day rosters, Hazmat suits for staff dealing with multiple interactions, and reporting travel history prior to resuming work at the plant.

Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA)

 

ACMA’s guidelines include mandatory thermal temperature checks in all phases of the working day, Hazmat suits for security guards, and fumigation of employees while entering or leaving the plant. Only essential employees like those handling machines, materials, and maintenance are allowed to come to work, with the remaining staff working from home. Biometric attendance is being avoided for the next 3 months with facial recognition and manual entries being the alternative solutions. Aside from designated office supply chain partners, no visitors are being allowed.

Renault Nissan Automotive India Private Limited (RNAIPL)

Most of the guidelines for the RNAIPL plant are similar with the highlights being avoiding physical meetings, change in workspace layout, hot beverages only, revised canteen schedule, as well as disinfecting protocols around the plant and its employees. There are also video awareness slides for health precautions.

Tata Steel

Tata’s protocols include sanitisation of employees during entry and exit from workplaces, ditching biometric attendance for an RFID card swipe, and workplace disinfection. If online meetings aren’t possible, a seating layout will be arranged to continue social distancing. 

Expect more automakers to reveal guidelines for the workplace in the coming days. These protocols will stay in place for a while depending on how the pandemic situation develops.