Coronavirus: Boeing temporarily suspends Puget Sound production
Boeing announced a temporary suspension of production operations at its Puget Sound area facilities on 23 March due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Boeing projects the suspension of the operations to begin on 25 March at sites across the Puget Sound area.
The company says the suspension is put in place in light of the state of emergency in Washington state and the company’s continuous assessment of the accelerating spread of coronavirus in the region. Over the period, Boeing will be conducting additional deep cleaning activities at impacted sites.
The manufacturer says the suspension of the production operations will last 14 days, during which Boeing will continue to monitor government guidance and actions on COVID-19 and its associated impacts on all company operations.
“This necessary step protects our employees and the communities where they work and live,” said Boeing president and CEO Dave Calhoun. “We continue to work closely with public health officials, and we’re in contact with our customers, suppliers and other stakeholders who are affected by this temporary suspension.”
“We regret the difficulty this will cause them, as well as our employees, but it’s vital to maintain health and safety for all those who support our products and services, and to assist in the national effort to combat the spread of COVID-19,” Calhoun added.
Safeguarding measures
Boeing says Puget Sound area-based employees who can work from home will continue to do so, with employees who cannot work remotely receiving paid leave for the initial 10 working days of the suspension. This is double the company policy and will provide coverage for the 14 calendar day suspension period.
“We will keep our employees, customers and supply chain top of mind as we continue to assess the evolving situation,” Calhoun said. “This is an unprecedented time for organisations and communities across the globe.”
When the suspension is lifted, Boeing says it will take an orderly approach to restarting production with a focus on safety, quality and meeting customer commitments.