BMTA Newsletter BMTA Newsletter - Spring 2020 | Page 15

bmta.co.uk
A new major measure was introduced. We needed to reduce staff
density further. A two-shift system was implemented. This
effectively gave us an overall staff density reduction of over 60% or
one person per 80sqm. Increased signage was added including
floor and door signs “2m distancing”.
We continue to monitor and take advice as we receive it. Although
we have fortunately not had a virus illness, we are undoubtedly
feeling and seeing the effects of our mitigation measures and the
pandemic.
Productivity and Efficiency
With all the staff awareness training, various mitigation measures
and self-isolation, productivity and efficiency has inevitably
suffered. This clearly will impact on profitability over the coming
months. We look forward to the day when these can be relaxed
and even removed such that we can return to normal productivity
levels.
Business Activity
We saw an immediate and dramatic fall off in work after the 23rd of
March announcement. Many large and international corporations
almost instantly furloughed staff and ceased production.
With so much uncertainty, the requirement for calibration seemed
almost in abeyance and not a high priority consideration for many.
This was further exacerbated by the Easter holidays. Apart from a
skeleton staff, we decided to close the laboratory for one week
over Easter. This certainly helped as the workload started to build
again over this period.
As we are also unable to attend customers' sites, this again has
impacted business activity both in direct work and sales
prospecting.
Customer Communications
We experienced several difficulties reaching customer
administration departments. This caused issues around timely
payment of invoices and issue resolution. Most of this disruption
seems to have been caused by people reorganising themselves to
effective homeworking. This situation is now normalising.
We have adapted to our new ways of working and the new
disciplines: Hygiene, sanitising, quarantining of incoming items,
handling procedures, 2m distancing and effective homeworking.
We have adopted and learnt new communication systems and
skills which are now used routinely. Remote auditing activities are
now being promoted in support of laboratory quality systems and
accreditations. Remote auditing will undoubtedly remain even after
the pandemic is behind us.
There now almost seems to be a dawning realisation that business
must and will have to continue but with the adoption of new safe
working practices and measures. Although business activity is
beginning to recover, we are still well below the norm. Since the
Prime Minister’s announcement on Sunday 10th of May with a call
to return to work, we are hopeful to see a further increase in
activity.