One year ago, the Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY) and a small group of manufacturing leaders met to form a consortium and outline a process of “Keeping People Safe and Factories Running” amid a global pandemic. From these discussions, the manufacturer’s pledge was developed.
The manufacturer’s pledge, supported by a peer-to-peer review process, utilizes the collective skills and knowledge of the founding organizations, including experience from those who have overcome previous infectious episodes like the SARS outbreak. The process leverages best practices aligned with the NYS Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. The process includes the following key topics:
- Controlling site traffic
- Enhancing hygiene protocols
- Social distancing to reduce density
- Onsite emergency response
- Increased communication to employees, community, and customers
One year later the pledge has proven to be successful with 23 companies taking the pledge. As a result, more than 2,400 individuals are employed in a safe environment at these companies. Plus, there is increased communications and collaboration among manufacturing companies in the region to address the most critical issues facing the industry.
MACNY President and CEO Randy Wolken said, “Throughout the pandemic, our manufacturers have worked together to put a comprehensive list of safety measures in place to help keep their workforce healthy and safe and the industry productive. This has been a challenging year, but manufacturers have proven to be resilient. I commend all the cohorts that have completed the innovative pledge program.”
Among the founding organizations, Indium Corporation was deemed an essential manufacturer when New York State entered a shutdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company continued to produce materials for some of the nation’s most urgent needs, such as ventilators and first responder networks. Ross Berntson, President and Chief Operating Officer, was instrumental in designing the consortium and completing the pledge.
“I am thankful to the other local manufacturing leaders for coming together to tackle this challenge and collectively develop a process that has allowed us to keep our employees, families, and communities safe,” Berntson said. “Our actions have helped ensure that critical industries are supplied and that innovation and growth has continued. We need to remain disciplined in following the guidelines we have set to continue to operate safely.”
For more information about “Keeping People Safe and Factories Running,” please visit https://www.macny.org/keep-people-safe-and-factories-running/.