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The Steelmakers, the Plantbuilders and the Virus It feels a lot longer, but COVID-19 has ruled our lives for less than one year, so far. In the months since the outbreak in China, and the consequent spread to all corners of the globe, industrial companies have continuously reassessed and updated their attitude and the measures to take amidst the pandemic. Let’s hear some recent views on the challenges and measures taken.
Nest-In, Tata Steel’s construction solutions business venture, has developed a COVID-19 testing booth for a swab collection procedure that is hassle-free and safe for both healthcare professionals and patients. The Nest-In design & development team spent days interacting with medical professionals and studying the existing units in the market to identify pain points and derive insights. They developed an innovative unit which enables a contactless exchange of test tubes and is equipped with a two-way mic and speaker system that facilitates clear communication between the healthcare professional and the patient. The unit is spacious and constructed with insulated sandwich panels to provide a pleasant and comfortable environment inside the unit. The unit is also equipped with a builtin disinfectant spray that eliminates the need for an additional resource to sanitise the unit after each sample collection, further reducing the risk of infection. The hardened glass ensures clear visibility and safety for healthcare professionals and patients.
Tata adjusts working hours to avoid heavy traffic The 12-hour work shift trialled at Tata Steel Jamshedpur’s new bar mill, sinter plant and the Industrial By-product Management Division (IBMD) to contain the spread of COVID-19, has been successful. “The trial’s success gives us the confidence to roll out the 12-hour work shift in other departments in Jamshedpur works as per the business requirement and assessing the COVID-19 situation,” a press communiqué issued by the steel giant stated. The primary objective of the re-
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Tata’s swab collection unit can be also used by hospitals, testing labs and industrial firms
quest was to reduce employee traffic on the shop floor and reduce employees’ exposure to an out-of-home environment. The Jharkhand Government exempted the company from various provisions relating to weekly hours, daily hours, intervals for rest, etc. for adult workers, and allowed the workforce at Tata Steel Jamshedpur to work up to twelve hours a day.
Midrex: Learning from the Buffalo “What we considered normal a few months ago might seem appealing right now, but the status quo is overrated. Change happens when it becomes dissatisfying enough and unacceptable to stay where we are, so we try something new,” says Stephen Montague, president and CEO of Midrex Technologies. “Change produces innovation, and innovation drives progress. We certainly did not choose this path for change, but we can control how
we respond. Now is not the time to wish everything would go back to the way it was. It is time to acknowledge that we have the opportunity to create something better. My Midrex teammates have Stephen heard the story Montague, about how buffalo president and and cattle react CEO of Midrex when a storm apTechnologies. proaches. Cattle try to escape by turning away from the storm and heading in the opposite direction. But cows cannot outrun storms; instead of running away, buffalo turn into the storm and meet it headon. Both of them will have to endure the storm’s fury, but the buffalo will spend less time in the storm, thereby reducing the pain and suffering. At Midrex, we choose to address our challenges like the buffalo.” Among other things, Montague highlights that no one has the answers; it is vital to understand the general trends of change and get moving. “It is easy to become paralysed by the lack of information needed to make accurate forecasts. It is better to be nimble and frequently adjust the course than to put faith and time into pinpoint forecasting,” he says.
Tenova Shares Information in Digital Space “It goes without saying that safeguarding people’s health and safety remains our number one priority. Business continuity has been the other major priority since day one: with all means at our disposal, we strive to guarantee proximity to our customers,” Tenova says in a statement sent to MPT International. “Our digitals solutions already in place, specifically
September 2020 / MPT International
Sources: Tata Steel, Midrex
Tata Steel develops Swab Collection Unit to minimise contamination risk
