CPI Works with U.S. Manufacturers in Mexico to Implement Best Practices During COVID-19 Pandemic

Guidelines for Business Continuity While Keeping Employees Safe

Co-Production International (CPI) is a shelter services provider for companies in Mexico that manages U.S. and foreign manufacturing operations in Mexico. From administrative back office and HR, to import/export compliance and facility certifications, CPI’s job is to handle it all so that their clients can focus on manufacturing.

With the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) sweeping across the globe, CPI’s Operations Team reached out to their manufacturing companies in Mexico several weeks ago, despite the positive COVID-19 cases in Mexico being relatively low compared to other countries.

Anticipating the need to be prepared, CPI worked with their manufacturers to develop new health and safety best practices for their facilities to prevent virus transmission and spread, ensure employee health and safety, and prevent production slowdowns.

Start & End of Employee’s Shift

• At the start of the shift, employees must submit to the temperature check before entering the facility. Once the employee is admitted, they must wash their hands before proceeding to his workstation.
• If an employee has any symptoms, they are to be sent home and their case monitored and reported to health authorities in the nearest city:
  • Mexicali: 686-304-8048
  • Tijuana, Tecate, Rosarito: 664-108-2529
  • Ensenada: 646-239-0955
  • Vicente Guerrero: 646-947-5408
• At the end of the shift, all employees must get in line while maintaining a distance of 1.5 meters before exiting the building (no congregating!)

Employee Travel and Commuting to and from Work

• When getting on the company transport bus, employees will be given antibacterial gel.
• While riding the company transport bus, only one person per seat is allowed.
• For employees traveling to and from work, they are to wear their company ID badge and uniform (if applicable), so they can justify their movements to authorities who are monitoring essential travelers.

During Shifts

• Work areas must be cleaned every hour (tables, hand tools, desk, keyboard, mouse, etc.)
• Every hour employees must wash their hands. Each area supervisor will coordinate the departures of 2 people at a time.
• It is forbidden to talk face to face. In case of meetings, employees must maintain a minimum distance of 1.5 meters and should only be a maximum of 5 people.
• During the break in the dining area, the staff must maintain a considerable distance from other employees. Only 2 to 3 people per table will be allowed.
• Avoid hand-to-face contact.
• Maintain distance when walking through the hallways to the dining room, work areas or restrooms.

Employee Personal Protective Equipment

• All personnel are provided with latex gloves and masks to work in their areas.

Facility Safety & Notices

• Do not share office items (pens, pencils, down, radios, etc.)
• Have antibacterial gel for each area within the facility, at the entrance and exits, and on company transport buses.
• All suppliers will have their temperatures taken and anti-bacterial gel provided before entering the plant.
• Notices should be in common areas outlining new hygiene measures, including handwashing for 20 seconds.
• Medical service all week to keep the staff monitored.
• A doctor was asked to give a presentation on COVID-19, which was given in three sessions to avoid stopping production.

Specific Job Changes

• Administrative employees are to work from home.
• All face-to-face meetings have been cancelled.
• Employees that are pregnant or nursing, or those employees that are over the age of 65, or those with preexisting conditions that make them vulnerable, are to stay home.
• Crossborder executive travel may be impacted. When possible, we recommend postponing or holding virtual meetings instead of crossing the border.

More Resources:

• Helpful Links for Monitoring COVID-19 in Mexico, the U.S. and the World
• Daily Status of COVID-19 in Mexico
• Contract Manufacturing in Mexico during Supply Chain Disruptions