The spread of COVID-19, commonly known as the coronavirus, continues to pick up pace globally and is increasingly a key priority and in view of the growing concern Daikin Applied (UK) Ltd and Daikin Applied Service would like to reassure the customers that they have adopted a risk-minimization approach to ensure minimum disruption to business.
Unfortunately, the onset of the Coronavirus has caused many industry implications, this is a brief update on Daikins supply chain, operations and the measures undertaken to ensure the continuation of the business and support to customers.
Precautionary measures
They have issued their employees with information to take precautionary measures as advised by the government and NHS and will monitor any changes and advise accordingly.
As a business, they have implemented further precautions:
- Business trips to and from Category 1 countries and regions are prohibited until further notice. Travel to other countries should be avoided unless deemed essential and approval given by Senior Management.
- Meetings where possible to be conducted via video conferencing, Skype, GoTo Meetings etc.
- Communal areas are being given extra cleaning, e.g. rest rooms, canteens, door handles etc.
- Staff are being asked to self-isolate in accordance with government guidelines if they have been in direct contact with someone with the virus or travelled to a category 1 country within the last 14 days.
- Daikin is considering the introduction of temporary smart working arrangements to allow more flexibility and to help reduce risk.
- Everyone should practice good hygiene to protect against infections.
AHU and Chiller orders
Currently their factories both in the UK and Italy are working at normal capacity and they are taking steps to ensure this continues. However, it is possible that the current situation will affect business in the coming weeks and they will keep all customers updated if the situation changes.
At present, Daikin has not seen any reduction in the level of service they get from their suppliers with this under constant review and their procurement department is in regular contact with the factories and suppliers, checking lead times and supply issues.
Daikin Applied Service
- Remote workers such as their engineering teams have mobile phones and all have access to office servers via their tablets and laptops.
- As Daikin’s in-field engineers are generally lone workers, they would consider that their contact with the office and other engineers will be limited and, they will continue to monitor the situation.
Daikin on site
The frequency of virtual visits may increase, and actual visits decrease
Clients with chillers capable of supporting the Daikin On Site remote monitoring, and with maintenance contracts already set up to utilize this, will continue to be monitored regularly.
To reduce site attendance however, should faults occur where generally a call out may be required, then these faults will be reset (where possible) via the DoS system and monitored accordingly by one of the remote monitoring team. The frequency of virtual visits may increase (and actual visits decrease) should a reduced workforce through self-isolation occur.
Monitoring workforce health
As well as Daikin’s own locally stored spares they source spares from their factories across Europe, they purchase spare parts and materials across a range of suppliers who will in turn, purchase materials from across the globe.
They will continue to monitor the health and wellbeing of the workforce along with the supply chain.
