ABSTRACT
The study aimed to identify and analyze measures used in manufacturing enterprises to protect workers from COVID-19 infection and maintain business continuity. Measures were identified based on literature studies, recommendations presented in the guidelines of international and national organizations, information from manufacturing companies, and the study authors' expertise. Measures were classified into five groups. A survey was conducted using a mixed model Computer Assisted Web Interview/Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CAWI/CATI) on a representative group of 600 manufacturing companies in Poland. Measures were analyzed according to the occurrence or non-occurrence of COVID-19 in the enterprise. It was confirmed that the vast majority of identified measures were being applied, and enterprises implemented other solutions developed in-house. Legal and regulatory measures, individual protective measures, and protective measures for groups of workers were mainly applied at similar levels, both in the occurrence or non-occurrence of COVID-19. The implementation measures of work organization and production organization are mostly higher in enterprises without COVID-19. The proposed approach can be the basis for developing a methodology for studies of crisis events of a similar nature. The results can be used to select and implement a set of measures for an individual enterprise.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of the paper is to present the results of the study of solutions implemented in Polish manufacturing companies to ensure their business continuity under COVID-19 pandemic conditions. A questionnaire survey was conducted using the mixed-model CAWI/CATI (Computer Assisted Web Interview/Computer Assisted Telephone Interview) on a representative group of 600 manufacturing companies in Poland. The research was conducted in March 2021, more than a year after the first lockdown. The study included cases of companies in most industries and companies of different sizes. The subject of the survey was to identify legal, technical, and organisational protection measures implemented in manufacturing enterprises in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in manufacturing companies in Poland. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced companies to look for solutions to work safely. Some of the identified work and production organisation solutions are innovative and can serve as models of good practice for other companies. They can also be the basis for learning lessons and preparing for future critical incidents. It is a great economic and social importance to ensure the continuity of the activities of manufacturing enterprises during the pandemic.