Ink World Staff03.20.20
With cases of novel coronavirus COVID-19 still on the rise, we wanted to see how it may be impacting our industry/readership specifically. Earlier this week we conducted an anonymous poll to gauge how companies are handling myriad issues – from travel to sales to supply chain – related to the spread of COVID-19, which the World Health Organization declared as a pandemic on March 11, 2020.
Ink World's readership is involved in all aspects of the coatings industry – from architectural coatings to industrial coatings and the raw materials and equipment to formulate them.
By business activity, poll respondents were comprised of those who manufacture inks (48%); suppliers (15%); distributors (16%); printers (13%) and other (5%), which includes consultants, academia, etc.
(Respondents were allowed to select more than one product category)
By job function, 30% are in corporate management; 19% are in R&D/formulation; 34% in sales/marketing management; 4% in production/plant management; 9% in other.
Here are results from the poll:
We asked what specific aspects of your service, if any, have been affected?
Here is a sampling of those responses:
• Technical support is limited due to some staff being in isolation. Many are working from home where possible which puts a strain on communication around development work.
• So far mainly demand which is now quite patchy, but we have been notified of some potential supply chain issues coming up.
• Some limitations on lab personnel for technical support, they are working but are practicing social distancing.
• We have had tens of thousands of dollars lost in the past 5 working days due to cancelled orders due to events being cancelled.
• No outside sales calls.
• No incoming re-orders. Significant drop off in sales.
• Our plant went to two shifts to separate our production workers.
• Raw materials delay from Asia; dropped sales in China.
• Home office is now compulsory
• Employees attendance is at its lowest, as lots of people are staying home to protect themselves
• Battle to get meetings.
We also asked, “What efforts have you made to improve the overall cleanliness of your workplace?”
Here is a sampling of those responses:
"Staggered breaks and lunchtimes for staff;"
"Updated handwashing guidelines;"
"Clean down of equipment at the start and end of each shift;"
"Practicing social distancing;"
"Taking recommended precautions"
For more about trade show postponements and cancelations, click here.
For more about how the industry is responding, click here.
Ink World's readership is involved in all aspects of the coatings industry – from architectural coatings to industrial coatings and the raw materials and equipment to formulate them.
By business activity, poll respondents were comprised of those who manufacture inks (48%); suppliers (15%); distributors (16%); printers (13%) and other (5%), which includes consultants, academia, etc.
(Respondents were allowed to select more than one product category)
By job function, 30% are in corporate management; 19% are in R&D/formulation; 34% in sales/marketing management; 4% in production/plant management; 9% in other.
Here are results from the poll:
We asked what specific aspects of your service, if any, have been affected?
Here is a sampling of those responses:
• Technical support is limited due to some staff being in isolation. Many are working from home where possible which puts a strain on communication around development work.
• So far mainly demand which is now quite patchy, but we have been notified of some potential supply chain issues coming up.
• Some limitations on lab personnel for technical support, they are working but are practicing social distancing.
• We have had tens of thousands of dollars lost in the past 5 working days due to cancelled orders due to events being cancelled.
• No outside sales calls.
• No incoming re-orders. Significant drop off in sales.
• Our plant went to two shifts to separate our production workers.
• Raw materials delay from Asia; dropped sales in China.
• Home office is now compulsory
• Employees attendance is at its lowest, as lots of people are staying home to protect themselves
• Battle to get meetings.
We also asked, “What efforts have you made to improve the overall cleanliness of your workplace?”
Here is a sampling of those responses:
"Staggered breaks and lunchtimes for staff;"
"Updated handwashing guidelines;"
"Clean down of equipment at the start and end of each shift;"
"Practicing social distancing;"
"Taking recommended precautions"
For more about trade show postponements and cancelations, click here.
For more about how the industry is responding, click here.