The manufacturing disruption in Europe has been wide and far reaching, with the vast majority grinding to a halt over the past few weeks. Coronavirus has wreaked havoc, but the automotive industry is slowly restarting production with new health measures in place. Bentley is the latest mark to announce a return to work.
In what Bentley is calling the ‘biggest change to daily working life in the company’s 100 year history’, it will introduce 250 new hygiene and social distancing procedures. The structure known as ‘come back stronger’ will be initiated as a gradual reopening of the Crew factory beginning on 11 May 2020. These new measures cover leaving work, travel, entry, preparing for work, work stations, breaks, and exiting the site. Over 4,000 people work to hand-build Bentley cars.
Systems such as two-metre distancing and a one-way flow will prevent close contact, while face masks will become mandatory work attire. Those who are capable of working from home will continue to do so. Staff will receive regular temperature checks and plastic separation screens have been installed at workstations.
Adrian Hallmark, Chairman and CEO, Bentley Motors, said: ‘The time is now right for Bentley to begin a gradual and controlled return to production, while ensuring our sites are the safest place any of us can be. Everybody will be able to play their part to ensure we can continue Bentley’s extraordinary journey into the future of luxury, sustainable mobility.’ He continued ‘Throughout this unprecedented crisis, the health and safety of our colleagues has, and will continue to be, paramount. These extensive new working measures will allow both our people and Bentley to come back stronger than ever and even more focussed.’
The phased opening will begin on 11 May, with production resuming on 18 May. This return to production will see the final Bentley Mulsannes roll off the production line.
Keyword: Bentley factory returning to work in May