Last week California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Executive Order N-33-20 which outlined 16 critical infrastructure industries that should remain open for business during the COVID-19 situation. (https://www.cisa.gov/critical-infrastructure-sectors). Because Bend-Tek Inc. supports the aerospace and automotive industries, we thus fit into the critical infrastructure sectors, therefore Bend-Tek Inc. and its suppliers meet the definition allowed for exemption from the executive order to shut down until April 2020. We expect our suppliers to manage and maintain their supply chain while we continue to support our customers.
These 16 key sectors outlined below “are considered so vital to the United States that their incapacitation or destruction would have a debilitating effect on security, economic security, public health or safety, or any combination thereof.”
Those sectors include:
§ Chemical | § Financial Services |
§ Commercial Facilities | § Food and Agriculture |
§ Communications | § Government Facilities |
§ Critical Manufacturing | § Healthcare and Public Health |
§ Dams | § Information Technology |
§ Defense Industrial Base | § Nuclear Reactors, Material, and Waste |
§ Emergency Services | § Water and Wastewater Systems |
§ Transportation | § Energy |
Bend-Tek Inc. is closely monitoring COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and is taking preventive health measures recommended by governmental authorities and health organizations including Centers for Disease Control (U.S.), the World Health Organization, and others as the situation progresses. The current COVID-19 pandemic situation, which continues to evolve daily, has caused the world economy to grind to a halt. We recognize our part in mitigating any potential spread of the Coronavirus within our facilities, our staff, and our families and local communities. At Bend-Tek Inc, the health and safety of our employees, their families, and our customers remain our biggest priorities.
We have taken precautionary steps to increase our disinfection practices, such as maintaining and cleaning our shared public spaces, and have instructed our employees to adhere to the recommended practices from the CDC. We will also be following suit with recommended practices to cease all unnecessary in’s and out’s at our headquarters at this time. We will continue to ship and receive orders, but we must limit our exposure to any unnecessary visitors during this serious situation. You must contact us for approval prior to any visitations to our facilities effective immediately.
This is our necessary response in taking proactive measures to ensure our business resiliency and supply chain continuity in the event of further outbreak in our region. Our business plan is to remain focused on supplier stability and continue operating in a relatively flexible manner, ready to meet our customers’ demands. To date, Bend-Tek Inc. remains virus-free and we have not had any issues with employee illnesses related to the COVID-19 outbreak. However, this may change in the coming days or weeks ahead. If the government decides to facilitate a shut-down in Orange County, CA then we will be forced to comply until further notice.
We currently report that none of our operational, production, or supply chain for our industry has been impacted by COVID-19, so we remain able to remain in operation to manufacture products for our customers locally, nationally, and internationally. You can expect to hear more from us in the event of any changes that would impact your business. Given the nature of this serious situation however, we may see an increase in delivery-times and we would advise that you review your order schedules for any flexibility. If you have any questions, please reach out to your point-of-contact and they will be happy to review our processes to maintain your business.
This outlines the proactive and preventative steps Bend-Tek Inc. is taking to protect the well-being of our employees, and our request of you, to help us maintain continuous operations.
• Symptoms/Hygiene – We are actively encouraging sick employees, or employees who have sick family members at home, to stay at home.
• Travel – Bend-Tek Inc. has prohibited all international travel. In addition, discretionary U.S.-based business travel is prohibited.
• Travelers and contact with others potentially infected by COVID-19 – We ask any employees who have been to or through any of the currently identified travel risk zones (Level 2 or 3 countries, including: Europe, China, Iran, S. Korea), or around someone potentially affected by COVID-19, to not enter their work site and contact their supervisor and local HR immediately.
• Meetings/Employee Gatherings – Bend-Tek Inc. has instructed that all internal face-to-face meetings, seminars and training that require travel outside of the employee’s “base site” are postponed.
• Visitors – Visitors to our offices and facilities will be restricted. Visitors and employees who may have been exposed to the virus or who report symptoms of illness will not be allowed entry into the facility.
Maintaining Consistent Operations – Our Request Of You
In order to keep Bend-Tek Inc.’s manufacturing operations running smoothly, we need your help. Please alert us as soon as possible if you anticipate any part or material delays that would impact Bend-Tek Inc’s production. If you have any concerns, please reach out your contact at Bend-Tek Inc.
Please stay healthy and safe,
Bend-Tek Inc. Management