COVID-19 survey shows manufacturing delays

PRISYM ID, a label management software company has conducted a COVID-19 survey amongst medical device manufacturers internationally. The survey indicates that many manufacturers have experienced severe disruptions as a result of the pandemic.

The COVID-19 survey sampled 30 different world leading medical companies, and found that a majority of the respondents, approximately 70%, experienced manufacturing interruptions due to the pandemic. The COVID-19 survey saw that 36% claimed the pandemic caused more than two months of interruption to manufacturing activities. And out of the firms sampled, 30% claimed that they did not witness any disruptions

When it came to sources of information to rely on, guidance, and advice on achieving the best practices for social distancing, 43% of respondents used government sources, while 40% relied on their internal leaders. Research suggest that more support is needed to help people understand how the rules on COVID-19 affect and relate to their organization. Even though half of the respondents claimed they understood the rules, only 23% fully understood them to a greater extent, and the same number to some extent, while only 3% did not understand them at all.

Social distancing rules that have been put in place across the world clearly create issues for many companies. When asked if manufacturing lines would need to adjust to meet social distancing requirements, and the use of personal protective equipment, majority of 70% said that there will be some impact in regards to process and physical changes. However, only 10% said that it would require significant change, 3% said it would make social distancing impossible, and 17% said there would be no impact.

The social distancing rules, with various standards in place across different countries, would clearly create problems for many companies. Asked whether manufacturing lines would need to be reconfigured to meet social distancing requirements and the use of PPE, the majority (70%) said there would be some impact made by the changes. One in ten said it would require significant changes; 3% said it would make social distancing impossible, while 17% said there would be no impact.