Ducati is set to gradually return to normal, with the steady resumption of Production resumes at Ducati's Borgo Panigale factory today, Monday April 27. "We are ready to go, we have worked hard over the past few weeks to minimize any risk," said Claudio Domenicali, Ducati CEO. "Despite this, we will have to be extremely cautious and rigorous. The virus is still in circulation and we must therefore be careful to combat any possible form of transmission."
Ducati had temporarily suspended production in its Bologna plant back on Friday 13 March to reorganize production schedules and contain the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. Then came the decree that suspended all non-essential activities and therefore, despite the organization being ready, production did not restart.
However the gradual improvement in health conditions has allowed the government today to enable companies deemed strategic for the national economy, whose activity is mainly aimed at exports, and for which a prolongation of the suspension would risk losing our country additional market shares, to resume production. This is a first phase of return, which at the moment will only involve a part of the workers destined for the production lines.
"This is the reason why all the people present in the factory will wear masks, we must protect the population from the presence of asymptomatic positives who, although in a very small percentage, are present today and will not be identified by the mandatory temperature test," claims Domencali. "Serological tests can help but they represent only a snapshot; they should be repeated every day before entry, and this is obviously extremely difficult. This is why masks and distancing are so important."
Workshop staff will begin first, then engine assembly workers and, from Tuesday 28 April, motorcycle assembly workers. As for employees, the use of smart working will remain mandatory, only those who are not in a position to carry out their work from home will be allowed to access the factory. All resources employed in the commercial, marketing, IT, personnel management, finance, purchasing and logistics areas will continue working remotely.
The production has been reorganized, going from an eight-hour shift to two seven-hour shifts to allow the minimum number of people to be inside the plant at the same time and thus minimize possible contact. The canteen will be active but with one seat for every four chairs.
