The general situation in China is improving daily and this is reflected in Gunnebo Entrance Control where we are now operating at full capacity at our factory in Kunshan, China. Our employees are back at work. There are still restrictions in place to ensure the safety of our employees, but we can now start to see that in time we will return to normal working conditions. This brings a feeling of positivity to everyone at the Gunnebo Entrance Control factory in Kunshan, China.
In a crisis like this, it is hard to find the clarity you are looking for if the situation is ambiguous, and information is constantly changing. Confusion is all around, exacerbated further by media reports. In these troublesome times, news travels fast and the same goes for fake news. It is hard to know what to expect in uncertain times. Employees need to adapt to a new way of working; in some cases, it is about working from home, read the full blog post here: How Gunnebo are working remotely and staying connected.
For some it is business as usual, but with additional safety regulations. For employees to adap to their new routines, they need to have clear direction and consistent information.
This COVID-19 outbreak has had a profound impact on people’s lives. In times like this it is critical that people know that they are being taken care of, that leadership is present, and that we will win the battle together; as a team.
Our Product Manager at Kunshan Factory, Jimmy Yuan, explains how this was done at our factory in Kunshan.
“We contacted our employees on a daily basis to know the status, not only of the worker, but their family as well” - Jimmy Yuan
Furthermore, it is not only internal communication that is important, but also, the communication with other stakeholders; the government being one integral example. Our factory in Kunshan was one of the first plants to open in China after the lock down. And the reason for this was our close communication with the Chinese Government. This close dialogue made it possible for Gunnebo Entrance Control to swiftly re-open our plant and go back to business, and help make the world a safer place.
Communication with clients is also vital. During the Covid-19 pandemic, our factory in Kunshan has tried to keep all stakeholders informed about the progress and how orders will be processed; sharing an openness about the situation and how we are working to deliver their products, while maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our employees.
On the day that the first infection case in Kunshan was reported, Gunnebo held an emergency meeting and set up actions to prevent infection, and these are applicable to this date.
“When I look back at the progress of the Covid-19 outbreak, I can say we are lucky that we gave it so much thought, paid it high attention and took immediate actions at the very early stages of the outbreak.” - Dai Yun, HR Manager
In a situation like this, everybody is tempted to know everything and to be involved in the decision-making. However, it could be counter-productive as it distracts them from focusing on their work. By trusting others to make decisions, gives the peace of mind to focus on our own work and continued support to customers.
By placing a on our own area of expertise we could make sure orders were processed in good time, and our clients could receive their orders as soon as possible given the circumstances.
Some safety measures might seem excessive, but our experience through this time has been that it is worth it. Better safe than sorry has been a lead mantra through this.
One example of such a safety regulation was monitoring and measuring body temperature twice a day. It rose the question if it was entirely necessary? Would one time be enough? However, the measure encouraged people to be aware of their own condition and not to come to work if they felt unwell.
By following safety regulations and advice, and implementing restrictions, Gunnebo hopes to keep employees and their families safe, and furthermore, help reduce the spreading of this virus so we can swiftly resume our business activity, and provide further security solutions to our clients.