11.08.2021 - Influence of COVID-19 on Business Operations
Update (August 11, 2021):
The situation in our Malaysian plant has improved significantly.
The staff were fortunate to have mild symptoms, and the screening processes revealed that the many precautions taken were effective in limiting the spread.
Production has resumed on Monday, August 9, with around 80 staff. This number will continue to grow during this week, as various quarantines are concluded. We are prioritising production and working with all involved to manage the situation as effectively as possible. Our appreciation goes out to the members who have worked tirelessly to get the production running again, and also our customers for their understanding and support in these demanding times.
Matthew SIMONS
Update (July 30, 2021):
We have not made recent updates, as the general situation of delivery and Covid related restrictions have been consistently comprehensively in the national press.
We regret to inform that our factory in Malaysia has been closed with immediate effect due to a positive test within the staff members. As a precautionary measure, the factory will be closed and sanitised, and all members will be tested.
Operations will commence again, once the necessary approval is received from the Ministry of Health, which is anticipated by latest CW32. In the interim, there will not be any deliveries.
We will update the delivery schedules once the production lines are again up and running, and will be contacting any affected customers, to ensure that production prioritisation is aligned with customers’ needs.
We wish those affected a speedy recovery.
Matthew SIMONS
Update (June 14, 2021):
We have not made recent updates, as the general situation of delivery and Covid related restrictions have been consistently comprehensively reported in the national press.
At this time, there have however been a number of developments that directly impact Alysium’s activities.
Starting with the good news, the condition in Germany is improving quickly, and a partial staff return to the office is underway, broken down into cohorts. Fortunately, numbers are dropping and vaccine roll out is progressing at an ever increasing speed. The situations in both the US and Canada are also progressing in the right direction.
Regional restrictions are however affecting our production locations in Taiwan, Vietnam and Malaysia, in varying degrees of severity. Taiwan, who has done tremendously well in managing the impact of Covid during 2020, moved into a lockdown condition, which resulted in office workers working from home. Production output has not been affected.
Vietnam, being the production for some of our digital data transmission products, is operating at a reduced capacity, due to current restrictions. The longer the restrictions apply, the greater the impact, due to the resulting backlog.
Our plant in Langkap, Malaysia is operating with around 70% of the usual workforce. We are making a continuous evaluation of production priorities to ensure the least impact of this in the near and medium term. Our commercial and engineering office in Subang is currently closed, with staff working from home, and contactable via the usual channels. This status will remain in place until min. end of June.
Transportation issues, being sea and airfreight, should be looked at in detail separately, but costs remain at a very high level and transport times are double their previous levels.
In conclusion, there are increasing challenges on the supply-side, hence booking your orders as soon as possible is advisable. We remain committed to supporting you well, despite all and any challenges. As always, stay safe, and looking forward to getting through this with you together!
Matthew SIMONS
Update (October 12, 2020):
The absence of updates from Alysium on this matter, reflects the pragmatic acceptance that the “exceptional conditions” do not require running updates. A brief disruption from nCoV, is not brief, and not going away any time soon.
What is new is that the infection rates are regrettably again on the rise in various countries. Some Governments have adopted their guidelines / restrictions accordingly. Alysium is also continuously modifying our own definition of “reasonable” behaviours and expectations.
In Germany, the reduced working hours, introduced to better manage the contemporary challenges, are being slowly wound back. We have also already welcomed some customers and suppliers to our HQ, to address postponed meetings, audits and technical discussions. External meetings do however remain discouraged, unless essential. A healthy balance between “working from home” and being office based is being maintained for most staff members.
In Malaysia, the Recovery MCO (movement control order) has been upgraded to Conditional MCO for 4 States and Territories, which include our Sales Office in Subang. This condition will last until October 27, whereupon the situation will be reviewed again. Our production location in Perak is not directly affected. This will necessitate a greater return to working from home during this period. Service will not be negatively impacted by this, and all methods of communication will continue to work.
Our production in Perak, and operations in North America will continue the current working arrangements. Production in other locations is proceeding without restrictions. As always, stay safe, and looking forward to getting through this with you together!
Matthew SIMONS
Update (July 24, 2020):
At which point do “exceptional circumstances” morph into everyday activities? Alysium’s operations have adapted to meet customer’s and business requirements within the governmental restrictions / guidelines, and these “special arrangements” are now mostly routine.
In Germany, we have introduced reduced working hours to better manage the contemporary challenges. We have also already welcomed some customers and suppliers to our HQ, to address postponed meetings, audits and technical discussions. External meetings do however remain discouraged, unless essential. A healthy balance between “working from home” and being office based is being maintained for most staff members.
In Malaysia is operating under “Recovery MCO (movement control order) until August 31, 2020.
Our production in Perak, and operations in North America will continue the current working arrangements. Production in other locations is proceeding without restrictions.
Logistics supply chains are mostly back to normal, barring the noticeably increased prices.
As always, stay safe, and looking forward to getting through this with you together!
Matthew SIMONS
Update (May 25, 2020):
Much of Europe is slowly relaxing the restrictions associated with social gatherings. Alysium is also easing our operational restrictions, on our way to the “new normal”. This path considers Governmental guidelines and legislation, common sense, health and business priorities.
Alysium Germany has welcomed a number of staff back to the office. Department representation is still split between “working from home” and office based, to ensure continuity of service, should an infection occur. Sanitisation, social distancing and other (in the meantime, common) rules remain in force.
Malaysia is celebrating Hari Raya (public) holidays, and our Subang office will return on May 28. Alysium Malaysia will follow as phased re-start, similar to Alysium Germany. Our production in Perak, and operations in North America will continue the current working arrangements. Production locations is other locations are working without restrictions.
Transport / Logistics restrictions from capacity limitations and flight availability endures. We are experiencing slower transit times and with increased costs, which needs to be factored into project / delivery timelines.
As always, stay safe, and looking forward to getting through this with you together!
Matthew SIMONS
Update (April 22, 2020):
It has been quite surprising how resilient the organisation and supply chain have been, when faced with these unprecedented challenges. 15 years ago, without the levels of connectivity we have today, the situation would have been incomparable (and certainly intolerable).
Alysium Germany is still practicing “working from home” with only a skeleton team in the office. We are however watching governmental guidelines very closely, with regards to slowly relaxing the current structure.
The Malaysian government has again extended the Movement Control Order (MCO) until April 28 (whilst neighbouring Singapore is extending the lockdown until June 1). Our production in Perak still operates thanks to our Critical Supplier status, and issues relating to shortages through local suppliers have been addressed.
Staff in North America are also working from home and can be reached via the usual contact methods.
Production and operations in China, primarily relating to our automotive businesses, are effectively back to normal, which is inspirational.
Global freight forwarding services are where the main problems are now coming from. Routings are being severely affected, as is capacity and availability. Extended production lockdowns in Malaysia (and Singapore) have resulted in cargo being transferred to Europe via China, from direct routings. The Chinese hubs are, in turn, overloaded and are therefore prioritising shipments below 50kgs and medical equipment. As our weekly consolidated shipment between Malaysia and Germany is typically 500~700kg, this remains a consistent challenge for our Logistics staff, which they are still managing well (where there is a will, there is usually a way)!
Our sample production in Germany continues to manufacture face shields for local hospitals.
And fortunately, still no diagnosed cases among our staff and their families.
Stay safe, and looking forward to getting through this with you together!
Matthew SIMONS
Update (April 6, 2020):
Alysium is still hard at work, utilising the previously described business structures. These “special conditions” will endure for min. another 2 weeks, whereupon a further review will take place.
The Malaysian government has extended the Movement Control Order (MCO) until April 14. Our production in Perak still operates thanks to our Critical Supplier status, however many of our local suppliers may not. As such, we are starting to see shortages in the Supply Chain of some consumable items.
Production and operations in China, primarily relating to our automotive businesses, are effectively back to normal, which is inspirational.
Global freight forwarding services are facing ever more severe challenges through the detrimental effects of the nCoV restrictions. Issues such as airfreight capacity are becoming more acute. We are watching this issue very closely, and managing as best we can.
Our sample production has manufactured 27 face shields for local hospitals.
Fortunately, still no diagnosed cases among our staff or their families.
Stay safe!
Matthew SIMONS
Update (March 24, 2020):
In Germany, remaining office based staff each of their own “safe areas” within our facilities; to ensure social distancing and compliance with the “max 2 people per well ventilated room” policy.
Additionally, we have initiated use of our sample production resources to support the production of medical supplies, such as face shields for local medical facilities (https://open-diy-projects.com/doityourself-gesichtschutz-faceshield/) .
In Malaysia, the government has extended the MCO (Movement Control Order) from March 31, to April 14, which means that our Sales and Engineering office in Subang (Kuala Lumpur) will remain closed, however staff remain available online and by phone, and shipments are continuing.
Our production in Perak is operating under an exceptions notice, due to our position as a Key Supplier to various essential industries, incl. medical (under plant certification of ISO 13485). Attendance is based on staff members’ individual circumstances, with an emphasis on their and general society health and safety. As such, we are not operating at full capacity, and minor delays of non-critical parts could occur. Active management of the prioritisation process is ongoing. Finally, our freight forwarding services continue to support to this business, however many other airlines have announced a hiatus in their service to Malaysia. This has no impact on current business, but does represent an elimination of a further transportation safety net.
Production and operations in China, primarily relating to our automotive businesses, are fully operational and working hard.
Fortunately, we can continue to report no diagnosed cases among our staff or their families.
We wish all good health in these unique times and thank you for your continuous support, sense of community and contribution to resolving this challenge together.
Matthew SIMONS
Update (March 17, 2020):
Malaysia has been placed under nationwide movement control order (under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 and well as the Police Act 1967) from March 18 to March 31, 2020, due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
With the enforcement of this order, Alysium’s office in Malaysia will remain closed during this time. Our factory is allowed to operate with restrictions, subject to a daily attendance review on site, but also the regular review of COVID-19 development in Malaysia in general, by the respective authorities. As such production capacity is likely to be reduced and delays may occur. We hope our operation will be back to normal on Wednesday, 1st April 2020.
Any inconvenience is very much regretted and we wish you “Stay Safe and Healthy Always”.
Fortunately, we have no diagnosed cases among our staff (globally) or their families.
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Implementing elements of our Business Continuity Plan (BCP), the following actions have already been undertaken:
- ALYSIUM personnel are operating from Home Office, wherever possible. Telephone extensions are being forwarded, hence your contact person is still available.
- International and National staff travel has been cancelled until further notice.
- We will continue our support via Telephone, GoToMeeting, email and other online communication tools.
- Precautions in offices have been increased, incl. increased cleaning frequency with daily disinfection of common areas, face mask provision and greater separation of working spaces.
- Daily review and Impact Analysis of the developing situation, communication information where appropriate
