As people within the United States adjust to a new normal amid the coronavirus pandemic, companies and the industries they serve are working to embrace their own brand of new normal. 

We compiled a handful of articles from our sister websites to see how discrete and process manufacturers alike are handling issues stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.

What comes after COVID-19? 

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted businesses around the world by disrupting supply chains, impacting cash flow and accelerating the pace of digital transformation. However, instead of dwelling on the negative aspects of the situation, it’s time to plan for the future. Companies need to develop a strategic comeback plan to guide them on the path of growth. Here are some recommendations to put businesses in the best future position. 

A post-pandemic FDA

The U.S. FDA has taken unprecedented actions during the COVID-19 crisis to bolster medical supplies, rush testing to market, and help develop potential treatments. The actions have had both positive and negative consequences, which are just beginning to emerge. 

How U.S. Manufacturing Companies Are Reassessing China

In June, after a large number of companies in China had resumed operations, East West Associates conducted a survey of more than 150 Western companies with operations in China to see if their strategies for manufacturing, contract manufacturing and sourcing there had changed. 

Smart Social Distancing on the manufacturing plant floor

A silver lining within the dark cloud of the COVID pandemic is the technology boon prompted by new worker-safety needs. Case-in-point: Software AG’s new Smart Social Distancing solution that promises to enable workers to return, safely, to plant floors while complying with GDPR and other privacy regulations. 

Prioritizing employee mental & physical health & safety

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, employee health and safety has come to the forefront of many leaders’ minds. To help those leaders put thought into action, Amanda Del Buono interviews Kylene Zenk, director of manufacturing practice at Kronos, about how digital technologies can help manufacturers be more attentive to their employees’ overall well-being. 

4 ways manufacturers can win in the "new normal"

The COVID-19 pandemic forced custom-part manufacturers to slow or shut down productions—a shift that has posed several obstacles and, surprisingly, even a few opportunities. During this time, manufacturers gained more flexibility to step back and assess their business, a critical exercise that often falls to the wayside amid a demanding work schedule. Now, as shops start to reopen, it’s more important than ever to take this extra measure. When the world fully resumes operations, the pressure to modernize—coupled with post-COVID-19 complexity—will only grow. 

COVID-19 Reshapes Production Team Collaboration

In response to the global pandemic, it’s vital for chemical manufacturers to maintain production for the good of the economy and society at large while keeping their employees safe from infection. Increased workload caused by greater demands or reduced staffing (or both) means that people have less time to communicate. Employees may be carrying out extraordinary tasks or covering assignments for incapacitated colleagues, making communication that much more important. However, because COVID-19 has brought the need for social distancing to the plant, face-to-face communications have become impossible or difficult at best.