May 14, 2020
Engine manufacturer and service provider Rolls-Royce has re-tasked some team members to support the global COVID-19 crisis response by making face shields, manufacturing ventilator components and crunching economic data with some of the world’s leading companies.
“In keeping with our altruistic nature, we have repurposed some of our teams to support the global effort to defend against COVID-19,” the company said in a statement.
For example, a Rolls-Royce team developed a 3-D printed face shield. In about two weeks’ time, the team moved from concept to prototype to production, making at least 200 units per day. The manufacturer has delivered more than 5,000 face shields to the U.S., United Kingdom and Germany.
Rolls-Royce also is participating in the Ventilator Challenge UK, leading development and execution of a parallel supply chain to stock adequate components and meet demand for life-saving ventilators.
The fight against COVID-19 relies on data as much as material supplies, so Rolls-Royce organized a group of companies using data analytics to get people back to work. The Emer2gent alliance, which includes IBM, Google Cloud, The Data City and Truata will consider economic, industry, travel and retail data to help businesses make sound decisions and limit the economic impact of the pandemic.
The company has also developed a series of best practices for mitigating the risk of COVID-19 exposure in the workplace and shared these practices with Rolls-Royce Authorized Service Centers.
While repurposing some team members to the COVID-19 fight, Rolls-Royce Business Aviation remains committed to its On-Wing Service mobile repair unit, service desk and other critical functions.
“Rolls-Royce is determined to be available to our customers when flying fully resumes and we intend to do whatever we can to ensure that our industry leading services are ready for when you need us,” said Andy Robinson, senior vice president of business aviation customers and services.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.