The term “unprecedented times” has been used so often in recent weeks, but it really is true. We have never experienced anything like it before.

At Texcel, it has been interesting and challenging in equal measure and we have been adapting the way we operate to suit the current situation. We are still manufacturing. Primarily products for the instrumentation and medical sectors, who are supplying products that are vital in this global crisis.

We have put robust measures to ensure are manufacturing staff are socially distancing in compliance with recommendations and those staff that are able to work from home are doing so

From a supply chain perspective, it has been a remarkably busy time. Our customers who operate in different vertical markets are pulling forward or pushing back, dependent on what’s happening in their business. This has meant quite a lot of juggling on our part to make sure we have the right inventory in place.

After Covid-19 – the new normal?

None of us can accurately predict what our world will be like after this pandemic, but one thing is for sure, things will not be the same.

Thinking specifically about the electronics industry, I do have some thoughts about how some elements will be different moving forwards.

• Social distancing will be in place for some time to come – this will mean organisations will have to re-assess their working practices. (At Texcel we are looking at different shift patterns in production to enable us to ramp up production whilst maintaining the required distance between operators)
• Manufacturers will review their supply chain risk more rigorously – current supply chain issues show how vulnerable organisations can be. This means reviewing components in BOMS, locations of suppliers and where products are built
• More local production. Companies may decide to build their products locally as opposed to
  offshoring in order to remove some elements of supply chain risk

Clearly, we are all working our way through a volatile period, and, to do this and  successfully come out the other side, there needs to be a high level of co-operation, transparency, and flexibility between all parties in the supply chain. I am hopeful that those who are cooperative in these difficult times, will be rewarded with ongoing customer loyalty for the longer term.

These are just my thoughts. It will be interesting to look back later down the line and see what has happened. I am cautiously optimistic things will be different….. but better.

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