FEATURE CORONAVIRUS UPDATE ACHIEVING A LOW TOUCH APPROACH IN A HANDS-ON SECTOR
How manufacturing and engineering businesses can embrace the ‘Low Touch Economy’ Another shift could be to consider
W
ith UK beginning to take a step forward into a new version of normal
life, the question of workplaces is brought to the foreground. Processes of old cannot simply be reinstated, and many within the manufacturing and engineering sectors are struggling to find ways to bring their workforce back into action safely. Changing these old “normal” processes
will be a difficult, but necessary challenge. Not only will working routines change, but social behaviours within the workplace will need to be amended too. This new approach has been named the
‘Low Touch Economy’. Experts have outlined how businesses will need to shift to a low- to no-touch model in order to both re-establish their businesses and balance safety for their workers. The idea of the Low Touch Economy was
coined by the Board of Innovation as a means to predict the future of all businesses in every sector after lockdown. It is a model by which companies can plan to secure safe and accessible processes for their workers. This means that both employees and
clients will need to get used to functioning at a distance. For the majority, this will require the implementation of new technology as a way to reduce the amount of physical human contact. This all comes together to emphasise the importance of hygiene awareness. Anyone who can’t or won’t adapt to this new normal risks being left behind. Forward-thinking manufacturers are
already well on their way to make the necessary changes ahead of lockdown easing. Google search volume data shows that searches for the phrase “low touch” went up 75% between February and April this year, while “non contact” rose by 91%.
34 SEPTEMBER 2020 | PROCESS & CONTROL So, how can your manufacturing or
engineering business get ready too? Stock up - Preparation is important.
Now more than ever, manufacturing and engineering businesses will need to keep a close eye on the hygiene and cleanliness of their workplaces. While a daily visit from a cleaning team is good, it will no longer be enough — top-up cleaning throughout the day will become essential, especially in a hands-on environment like a manufacturing shop floor. Surfaces that are frequently touched will need regular wiping down. Keeping spray cleaner and plenty of disposable blue roll around will encourage employees to give everything a quick wipe-down. You will need to give your employees
appropriate PPE, of course, but be ready to add more to it. Give the option of gloves and face masks if your workplace didn’t require them already before lockdown, and offer the same to any visiting customers. Hand sanitiser stations should be
available to your workers and clients too — place one at the entrance to the building and another at the entrance to the factory floor and or canteen. Minimising contact for customers and
clients - One way of reducing human contact is to embrace digital. What has been touted as a shift from a two-to-five year plan to an eighteen-month scope shows just how important it is for businesses to go digital. For example, with customers and clients
preferring self-service options, switching your sales process to allow for this also helps take a step towards a low-touch revamp of an old method. Product catalogues can not only be
digitised but woven with smart AI technology to improve the user experience.
The idea of the Low Touch Economy was coined by the Board of Innovation as a means to predict the future of all businesses in every sector after lockdown. It is a model by which companies can plan to secure safe and
accessible processes for their workers
automation within the factory, and an increased use of robots. For example, a delivery service in Milton Keynes utilises around 70 robots in its workforce to deliver groceries and food. Having been active in the last two years, the company has noticed a surge of interest after the lockdown, mainly towards aspects of hygiene and safety perks over the usual proposition potential. Utilising robots is one way to limit the number of hands a product comes into contact with after all. Minimising contact for your
employees - Depending on the viable space of plant or site, you will need to make changes in order to accommodate the advised 1m+ rule of social distancing. If you cannot set out your business to accommodate enough space for your workers, it may well be in your best interests to keep the doors closed until other arrangements can be made. Alternatively, you may be able to stagger
Sources:
https://www.boardofinn
ovation.com/low-touch- economy/
https://sifted.eu/articles /robots-post-pandemic/
https://www.industrywe
ek.com/technology-and- iiot/article/21133401/the -right-time-for-digital- transformation-now
shifts so that there are less people on the floor at any one time. Forming teams who work alternate weeks is one way to achieve this while keeping everyone on the payroll to some capacity. If you choose to operate shifts instead, be sure to leave a window of time for the shift switchover to allow for the workspace to be cleaned down before the next group comes in. This is a difficult period of transition for
all businesses, but for hands-on sectors like manufacturing and engineering, it can be more trying than others. Preparation will certainly see you through this storm - your business can convert to the Low Touch Economy model with careful planning.
Board of Innovation
www.boardofinnovation.com
/ PROCESS&CONTROL
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