COVID-19 Forces Rethinking of Automotive Manufacturing Processes, Uetz Says

Partner Ann Marie Uetz was quoted in an Automotive News article, “Did COVID poke hole in just-in-time practices?” about whether the coronavirus pandemic has prompted a reconsideration of automakers’ preference for just-in-time production practices.

Uetz said Foley’s recent survey of nearly 150 manufacturing executives found that nearly two-thirds of respondents believe the pandemic will result in a shift away from the just-in-time model and a greater use of warehousing to protect manufacturers from the disruptions still threatening to bring down supply chains and assembly plants.

According to Uetz, the emerging thinking is that a choice has to be made between continuing to operate as inexpensively as possible or taking new precautions to be more resilient – even if it means accepting added costs. “Is resiliency in the supply chain most important, or is cost more important?” she asked. “How do you weigh those against each other?”

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