JR Automation, GM partner to deploy medical mask assembly line in six days

On Saturday, March 21, 2020, General Motors (GM), approached Esys Automation, a JR Automation company, to help produce face masks to combat the COVID-19 outbreak. The project was aggressive, building an entire mask assembly line capable of producing 50,000 masks a day, and GM needed the equipment running in less than one week.

That afternoon, the leadership teams at Esys and JR Automation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd., reviewed the request and planned next steps. Sunday, March 22 at 11:00 am EDT, the team was assessing the request from GM, designing plans based on readily available parts, and releasing them for build as they went.

By Monday, March 23, JR Automation was working across multiple fronts to implement the plan, while GM was quickly prepping the Warren, Michigan cleanroom for installation:

• JR Automation's engineering and build teams in Nashville and Holland provided input and shared their expertise on this type of system with Esys Automation
• JR Automation's in-house machining & fabrication department designed and built customized machinery to assemble the masks
• Controls and mechanical engineering teams worked in parallel with the supply chain team throughout JR Automation to secure all components, despite many supply chains disrupted by the crisis
• Builders at Esys Automation worked around the clock to assemble components, delivering the first equipment to GM Friday morning. At 2:30 pm EDT on Friday, March 27, GM produced their first mask in response to the COVID-19 crisis using the line that JR Automation built in six days.

Other teams across JR Automation are already gearing up to provide automation solutions for other essential items in response to this crisis.