GM to deliver 1.5 million face masks per month

KUALA LUMPUR: It was only a few days back that U.S. President Trump asked GM and Ford to manufacture ventilators fast, as the Coronavirus cases in the U.S. proliferate. As a result, both automakers are now busy making the required medical supplies to fight the deadly virus.

Talking about Ford, it has teamed up with companies like GE Healthcare and 3M to increase the production of ventilators. Also, GM is working with Ventec Life Systems to manufacture ventilators at their Indiana plant.

As for GM, it is aiming to make and deliver 1.5 million face masks. The automaker has launched a rapid-response project to make face masks at such a large scale. The production began last March 20th with a core team of 30 engineers, members of the manufacturing team, designers, and buyers that GM asked for help.

With the help from people in production planning, product development, material sourcing, the team was able to get all the required raw-material to make face masks. It included brown non-woven fabric filler material, metal nose pieces, and elastic straps. Also, GM teamed up with Esys Automation and JR Automation to design and built machinery to assemble the masks.

These masks would be manufactured at auto giant's Warren transmission plant that was shuttered back in 2019. Around 31,000 sq feet of space is cleared to accomodate the new face masks assembly line. A new electric service line is also installed to power up the production stations.

GM has decided first to test about 2000 face masks to ensure they meet the quality standards. Once tested and cleared, the production line will work at full speed, and GM claims to produce about 50,000 masks per day, i.e., 1.5 million a month.

Besides, a series of safety measures have been implemented by GM to protect the works. This is done through physical distancing, pre-entry health screening, and enhanced on-site cleaning.

These efforts by GM and Ford would surely help the U.S. front line health workers in the fight against COVID-19.

Also Read: Volkswagen to donate medical equipment worth RM190 million