Win-Tech’s Management of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Win-Tech is monitoring the ever-changing climate of the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are constantly monitoring for any impact. The initial date of this memo, March 17, 2020, saw a low risk. We recognized that this could change and to date, we continued to assess risk throughout the summer and into fall and winter. More than a year after the initial onset of the pandemic, we are still actively monitoring trends and taking steps to ensure employee’s safety.
To manage this risk, we have implemented and maintained the following policies:
Personal Health Policy
Employee health is important to us. There are many ways to stay healthy:
• Handwashing is important to do often: Before you eat, after you use the restroom, and after you cough or sneeze.
• Social distancing: Even during breaks, please keep your space as best you can – employees should remain a minimum of 6 feet from each other.
• Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.
• Stay home if you do not feel well – especially if you are running a fever. If you have a shortness of breath, call your doctor.
If you do not feel well and are running a fever, employees are asked to stay home. Beginning June 1, 2020, all employees are required to take their temperature before coming into work to verify that they do not have a fever. Win-Tech has adjusted its PTO policy to allow for more flexibility in requesting paid time off.
Win-Tech emailed all employees about the new legislation regarding Paid Sick Leave, free mental health support, and other information that may apply.
Cleaning Policy
Disposable rags and cleaning supplies will be made available in each department. Each employee is responsible for cleaning at the start of their shift, prior to break and lunch, prior to the end of shift, and when changing machines.
Additionally, an employee on each shift is assigned to sanitize doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, water fountains, and handwashing stations every other hour.
Gloves are available to CNC machinists. For safety purposes, manual machinists may not wear gloves.
Visitor Policy
Effective immediately, Win-Tech is not accepting any visitors outside of those absolutely necessary to fulfill purchase orders. This is to limit new persons (unless problematic to business otherwise) to the controlled environment.
All visits from non-Win-Tech employees should be virtual if possible, including those already scheduled.
If a virtual visit is not possible or conducive to business, a pre-approved visitor may be permitted on-site but must be checked in at reception. The visitor must sign in and testify on paper that they are not ill (e.g., cold, flu, coronavirus, etc.). Hand sanitizer is available on-site. Visitors may not shake hands with employees and must practice social distancing and keep their visit brief.
Meetings & Travel Policy
All non-essential events and travel have been canceled or postponed through April 30, 2021.
Employees should reference the whiteboard in the tool crib area to see any shared notes or communication pertinent to the week’s workflow.
Following a hiatus of the weekly shop meetings, the meetings are back on and take place in the side parking lot, weather-permitting, where employees can physically distance themselves from each other.
Supply Chain Impact
We are keeping our customers up to date on all anticipated impacts to production and the fulfillment of deliveries and products.
Our purchasing team is contacting key suppliers to confirm arrangements have been made to minimize the impact felt along the supply chain.
Beginning in April 2020, some of our suppliers expressed shortages in workforce, causing minor lead time delays.
Our team had a plan in place to mitigate this to ensure it impacts customer orders as minimally as possible.
Additional supply chain issues arose over the course of the year (April 2020 through March 2021) and to date (May 2021). In addition to delays at processing houses, transportation/logistics lead times have adversely affected Win-Tech in significant ways.
In September 2020, a few of Win-Tech’s suppliers claimed to still feel the effects of the pandemic by way of cash flow and workflow shortages. Win-Tech continues to dual-source when it is an option. When sole-sources are affected, Win-Tech’s customer is given weekly updates (if not more frequent) updating them on current project statuses.
Beginning in late 2020, Win-Tech attributes several jobs on back-order due to COVID-19-related struggles along the supply chain. Customers are continually kept up-to-date.
By the end of first quarter 2021, Win-Tech’s efforts to mitigate late jobs due to pandemic-related delays were successful. We continue to anticipate what may be ahead as it relates to supply chain issues.
Communication Policy
While it is important to keep yourself up to date with news of the situation, please be sure that the source of the information is from a reputable source such as the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
More information on COVID-19 can be found here.
If Win-Tech becomes mandated to shut its doors due to a positive COVID-19 test or government requirement, we will notify all employees via email and phone and communicate a path forward.
As of March 25, 2020, Cobb County has issued a “Shelter-In-Place” directive. As an essential business per government regulations, Win-Tech is not affected by this but continues to be aware of government and medical recommendations.
On August 15, 2020, Governor Kemp issued an executive order regarding the pandemic. Georgia remained under a State of Emergency through the end of September 2020.
As of March 1, 2021, the trend is a good one and although we recognize the community is not in the “all clear,” we see the light at the end of the tunnel and will continue working to keep employees safe and our environment ready and capable to meet customer needs.
We continue to monitor resource availability (both in supply chain and workforce) and will communicate significant changes as the situation evolves; this communication posted online will be regularly reviewed.
If you have any additional questions, please contact me at:
akrache at win-tech.net
Thank you,
Allison Krache Giddens
Co-President
Win-Tech, Inc.