CEO Mary Barra shares how GM will make ventilators, face masks and shields

CEO Mary Barra shares how GM will make ventilators, face masks and shields

Manufacturers all over the world are transforming their facilities in order to help immediately supply urgent medical needs globally, with General Motors CEO Mary Barra explaining how they’ll help make it happen.

GM will be using their scale, expertise and resources to help supply ventilators, face masks and shields, working with Ventec Life System in their Indiana facility to create the ventilators. She also said they’ll transform their Michigan facility to create 50,000 masks a day, with the potential to increase to 100,000.

Writing on LinkedIn, she shared that “in times of crisis, we have to transcend the personal and come together for the greater good.”

“As we all come to terms with this global pandemic and how it is changing our own lives and the livelihoods of those around us, there are resounding reminders that we can and always will do what it takes, in any crisis, to come out stronger on the other end.”

She wrote that it can be easy to get trapped into thinking about the personal disruption the pandemic is bringing, especially given the difficult financial decisions that are impacting every one. But the focus must remain on those getting sick and the healthcare professionals who are on the frontline.

“Whether it is beverage companies producing hand sanitizer or fashion companies creating hospital gowns, there’s nothing more entrepreneurial than seeing an urgent need and meeting it,” she wrote.

“That’s why we are using our scale, expertise and resources to fill the dire shortage of ventilators, face masks and shields.”

Barra said they have been working with their supply partners to get the shift in manufacturing started and that the move will see them working together with other companies and seeing employees coming together to help with the crisis.

“Efforts by numerous industries to fill these urgent needs is striking a nerve because it’s about hope and support for each other during a time that can seem isolating and scary.”

Last week US President Donald Trump criticised GM for moving too slowly, despite the carmaker frantically moving to secure supplies for the 700 different components needed to make the air ventilators, and hiring additional staff beyond those available on site in order to keep up with the volume of work.

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