Research: Poll results, week 2: Doubled adverse COVID-19 impacts

Mark T. Hoske, CFE Media and TechnologyMark T. Hoske,

COVID-19 poll impact doubles

ANALYSIS, ADVICE: Adverse effects of coronavirus more doubled during two survey periods.

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engineering effects of COVID-19 at CFE Media and Technology websites; share your impacts in our ongoing poll. ONLINE

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The Coronavirus

Engineering Alert newsletter from CFE Media and Technology is offered after taking the survey. Nearly 3 of 4 respondents to a coronavirus (COVID-19) impact survey said their businesses have been negatively affected, up from half the week before. Of the 74% negatively impacted, those feeling a “great deal” of impact increased 13% to 35% in a week; 39% of respondents felt negative impact was not much or difficult to measure, up from 35% the week before. Those experiencing severe supply chain impacts also nearly doubled in a week from 9% to 17%. Among respondents, 53% are having supply chain problems March 20-25, up a bit from 48% March 10 to 19. Minor problems decreased from 39% to 33%. No problems remained at 38%.

Leading company actions focus on limiting travel (77% the first week increased to 80% the second); encouraging work from home (52 to 56%); working on contingency plans now with changes expected soon (52 to 57%); and eliminating travel (36 to 45%).

Survey method

From March 11 to 19 and from March 20 to 25 visitors to Control Engineering, Plant Engineering, Oil & Gas Engineering, and Consulting-Specifying Engineer websites gave coronavirus impact data. The survey continues to be available for future reporting.

Government strategies

What strategies should the U.S. government review to help address this type of situation in the

Figure: Three fourths of survey respondents said their companies were experiencing negative effects from Coronavirus (COVID-19), up from half in last week’s. Courtesy: CFE Media and Technology COVID-19 engineering impact survey, March 11-19 and 20-25

future? The three ranked responses gained support since the last period surveyed. 1. Incentivize re-shoring of key manufacturing segments back to the USA (pharmaceutical or feedstock products (ranking score of 192 for the full period March 11 to 25 up from 154 during the first period ending March 19.) 2. Invest in medical R&D to speed vaccine development and virus testing capabilities (ranking score 189 for the full period up from 153) 3. Do more to promote manufacturing automation where production can be completed with minimum operator involvement (ranking score 117 up from 89).

Advice from respondents

The survey also asked several open-ended questions. A sampling of lightly edited replies follows.

• Create more separation of the work force, adding remote conferencing and online collaboration. • Have always had hand sanitizer available as well as registered nurse on-shift and on-call. • Replace air filters with HEPA type, deep clean. • Tested IT infrastructure and VPNs, making upgrades as needed before the bulk of people transitioned to remote work. • Daily updates, daily review of best practices, additional hand washing, sanitizers, etc., closer availability of gloves, mask, eye protection, etc. • Look at non-mechanical solutions (passive systems) for tempering buildings. • Encouraging sick to stay home, eliminating international travel, severely limiting domestic travel, encouraging limited personal travel: If person travels they work from home for 14 days, • Depend less on other countries for medication. • Improve worldwide disaster recovery plans. • Pull manufacture of chemical raw materials from China. • Something like healthcare-for-all and some sort of income for sick hourly/part-time workers.

Sick folks need to be able to get care AND have enough funds to stay home to get well. • Stop processes that spread such a virus. ce

Mark T. Hoske is content manager, Control Engineering, CFE Media and Technology, mhoske@cfemedia.com, with help from the CFE Media and Technology research team.