Audi says it will gradually initiate the restart of production at its plants in Europe during the coming weeks.
In mid-March, the company announced the temporary suspension of production at its European sites. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the carmaker faced supply bottlenecks and a drop in demand.
According to Audi, the main component of the production restart is a “comprehensive package of measures to focuses on the safety of employees.” Audi says it is following the guidelines of the health authorities and the Robert Koch Institute.
Audi says teams of experts have adapted processes that prioritise health protection. There will be clear rules on distance and hygiene, and a modified shift system so that staff can avoid contact with one another.
In cases where employees cannot keep a distance of 1.5 metres from each other, masks must be worn. Audi has also created physical barriers at what it deems “critical workplaces”.
For instance, the pre-door assembly has a transparent plastic sheet barrier. This is because this operation requires two employees to work simultaneously on the same transport rack while standing opposite one another.
Managers, together with experts from fields including occupational safety and health care, have analyzed each individual workspace and developed suggestions to improve them. Shares spaces, such as the factory gates, carparks, restaurants and other high-traffic areas have also been analyzed.
Comprehensive precautions and modified work regulations have also been applied to office spaces. Only when everyone involved agrees on the measures will the workplace be considered “corona-ready”.
Engine production in Gyor has already been ramping up again. Vehicle production at the Audi sites will be gradually increased from the end of April 2020 onwards.
For employees at the factories in Germany who can only resume their work fully in later phases, short-time working regulations will continue to apply.
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