Honda will pause manufacturing at its Swindon manufacturing unit subsequent week as a result of a scarcity of components, because the pandemic continues to affect producer provide chains.
In an official assertion, the model mentioned: “Some manufacturing actions won’t run Monday 18 to Thursday 21 January as a result of Covid-related provide points. The scenario is at the moment being monitored with a view to restart manufacturing on Friday 22 January.”
The plant has briefly closed twice because the starting of December for provide causes, although that is the primary time the pandemic, moderately than delays on the port, has been cited as an element. It’s reported that the components in query are semiconductors – a world scarcity of which has already restricted manufacturing for Volkswagen, Nissan and Basic Motors.
Semiconductor provide is proscribed due to a pandemic-induced growth in demand for shopper digital units that use the identical supplies – together with smartphones, laptops and tablets – as working from house turns into extra common worldwide. Honda has minimize manufacturing at a number of websites worldwide because of this.
In the beginning of December, the Japanese agency informed workers that congestion at UK ports was inflicting a “transport-related components delay”. Like most producers, Honda operates a just-in-time manufacturing methodology, whereby components are delivered precisely when they’re required.
UK container ports, together with Felixstowe, Southampton and London Gateway, have been closely congested with an growing variety of shopper orders for Christmas and corporations filling lockdown-induced backlogs. It was additionally advised corporations have been stockpiling items earlier than the Brexit transition interval ended on 1 January.
In 2019, Honda introduced it will be closing its Swindon manufacturing plant, the place the Civic is at the moment produced, in 2021. It claimed an acceleration in electrification plans implies that “assets, capabilities and manufacturing techniques for electrified autos will likely be targeted in areas with a excessive quantity of buyer demand”.
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