Cummins Plant Manager Discusses Impact of Coronavirus on Workforce

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2020 -- 2:01 PM

-The coronavirus continues to run rampant through the country, state and even here in Clark County.

I spoke with Brad Heinke, the Plant Manager at Cummins in Neillsville, and he discussed some of the impacts Cummins workforce has seen due to COVID-19.

Question:  “With the surge in coronavirus cases, can you talk about the impact the virus has had on Cummins?”

Brad:  “For the Cummins plant here in Neillsville, unfortunately, we’ve had about 17 employees that have fallen sick due to COVID.  And a large number more that have been impacted being quarantined because they were in close contact with family members that were sick or community members that were sick.  But, through some contact tracing that we’ve done, we found that all the infections have really come from outside the plant.  The procedures and protocols we’ve put in place have been really successful in stopping the spread within the plant.”

“That being said, we’re experiencing a significant level of absenteeism because of the various disruptions caused by COVID-19.  We take this very seriously within Cummins and we have an internal group that works with our employees if they’re sick and showing symptoms.  They stay home.  And, of course, when they stay home, that hurts our production, etc.”

Question:  “You mentioned the contact tracing.  Is that something you do within the plant or do you receive help from the Health Department?”

Brad:  “We do that within the plant.  We have a Cummins Response Center.  That’s a seperate group that helps us do that contact tracing.  We do that through interviewing employees, etc.  We also partner with the Health Department.  Recently, I think they stopped doing that because it has been overwhelming for them.  But we’re certainly doing that inside the plant.”

Question:  “Can you talk about some of the procedures you’ve put in place to help combat the virus?”

Brad:  “I think Cummins has done a fantastic job of putting together a COVID-19 Safe Playbook.  It’s a thick playbook that has everything from how to get people into the plant safely and then what to do in the plant once they’re in here.  We start with a lot of improvements in the plant trying to keep people 6 feet apart.  When they can’t be, we’ve implemented barriers.  Everybody wears a mask.  Before they even come in the door, they get a mask to put on.  And our screening process is very thorough.  We ask everybody questions before they come in the door.  And once they come in they do get temperature screened as well.  So, we’re doing temperature screening and asking questions, your common questions about symptoms, etc.”

Question:  “You mentioned the potential loss of productivity, which can be dangerous right now because Cummins has shifted gears a little bit and has been making PPE material.  Can you talk about that?”

Brad:  “This absenteeism really does lower production and strains our operations.  It’s impacting our ability to build essential products.  And some of those essential products are not only the new manufacturing line that we have implemented here to build filters for power air respirator units for 3M.  But we’re also building filters for ambulances, that go into power generations for hospitals, for tractors like John Deere (because you still need to get crops out of the ground), for on highway trucks to move product across the country.  So, it really, really hurts our production for those essential products.  And it puts a lot of stress on the employees that come to work everyday to make these products.  So, it’s kinda twofold.  We’re seeing high demand as well for essential products, so any loss of production due to absenteeism right now is challenging.”

Question:  “If things continue in the direction they’re going, in regards to this surge in coronavirus cases, where do you see that putting the Cummins plant?”

Brad:  “We have really strict policy.  We follow our Cummins Playbook.  So, everytime that we have a positive case, we follow that playbook, we shut down the lines that are impacted, we do thorough deep cleaning, we do our contact tracing, we do all of those things.  So, I think, things will continue the way they have been, which creates a lot of stress, like I said, on our employees in the plant to shuffle people around and keep production running.  As far as taking it any further, I think it’s more about that constant shuffling of people within the plant to continue to try and build the high demand we’re seeing now.”

Question:  “Is there anything else you’d like our listeners to know?”

Brad:  “I’d like to reach out.  Cummins values our community partners.  And for years we’ve been ready and willing to say ‘how can I help?’  And our employees consistently participate to support the community through time and talents and we use grants and other resources to support the many community partners that we really value.  And I’m asking for their help.  The pandemic has created a very challenging environment for our employees, families and the community.  And now, with the holiday season coming up, we must come together to do something to keep one another safe and healthy.  We’re asking that those partners that we’ve worked with so closely to, basically, partner with us to keep the community safe and follow the guidance from the CDC.  And wear a mask, practice good personal hygiene, and social distancing, especially over the holidays.  Because if we don’t do that, we’re going to continue to see large absenteeism, we’re going to continue to see people outside of the plant not being able to work, and we’re not going to be able to get these essential products to our customers.”

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.