COVID-19 may force auto cos into more automation on shop-floor, less reliance on contract labour: EY

The Indian automotive sector will continue to face challenges related to non-availability of labour and concerns over health and safety management on the shop-floor following the coronavirus pandemic, which may force firms to accelerate adoption of digital technologies in manufacturing, a report by consultancy firm EY said.

This health crisis will settle gradually and would leave a profound impact on people and the ways of working especially on the shop-floor. There will be several changes to existing working norms and guidelines that organisations will need to abide by in order to ensure safety at the workplace, said the report titled 'Now, next and beyond: Auto factory of the future'.

Elaborating on how automotive shop-floors will evolve and adopt digital technologies post COVID-19, the report said automobile companies will now have to rebuild and reinvent a new ecosystem to accommodate the new normal that is likely to emerge.

"The auto sector will continue to face challenges related to non-availability of labor, concerns on health and safety management on the shop-floor. A digital shop-floor with specific interventions on planning and execution will become the new normal," it said.

The report further said,"Due to growing apprehensions during the lockdown, workmen are refraining from attending work. Some shop floors have been left deserted. Further, due to large scale migration of labour across India, availability and redeployment of contract labour post lockdown is a major concern."
Stating that the COVID-19 outbreak is having a profound impact on the automotive shop-floor, the report said,"This makes it important for the firms to expedite a well-planned journey to manage the crisis and build resilience for future uncertainties. Digital is emerging as a real option to enable manufacturing and supply chains attain strength and adapt to the new normal."
EY India Partner and Automotive Sector Leader Vinay Raghunath said, "In a post COVID-19 world, we do expect continued adherence to social distancing norms. Apart from demand-side variability, the auto sector will continue to face challenges related to non-availability of labor, concerns on health and safety management on the shop-floor."
He further said,"A digital shop-floor with specific interventions on planning and execution will become the new normal. Every player in the auto sector must invest ahead of the curve to achieve greater resilience and develop immunity against the future market uncertainties."