Well, I for one applaud this senior level executive for publishing his statement.
I don't know what every other manufacturer is doing to be able to handle the increased demand for their products in the midst of a pandemic.
What I do know is our company is being asked to increase production in certain segments anywhere from 35-50% and in one case doubling current volumes. Like most manufacturers that know what they are doing, we don't sit on unused capacity so when these requests come, we have to make a decision whether to invest or politely refuse the business. We stay at 85% of capacity so that we can handle 20% spikes from customers periodically. So basically to accept more business, we have to add weekend work. And that gets expensive in more ways than salaries.
If we accept, then we go to work. Increasing output is not just an issue of money. Actually money is the least of the problems. Getting the plant set to handle increases like this takes time. Sometimes so much that by the time one can be geared up, the demand has passed and now it's no longer needed. It cost $1,000,000+ to add a press to be able to accept a new piece of business. Add to that, wiring, plant space, plumbing, hiring and training people to run it, and well it's easy to see that you can't just flip a switch or hire more people to meet increased demand.
There is a delicate balance and more than a few great companies have been brought to their knees because they jumped on the bandwagon and tried to capacitize for the demand and not see it sustain over enough time to get their ROI.
Now, roll in covid. People are out sick, or having to call in because they may have been in contact with someone expected to have covid. When they are at work, they have to maintain "social" distancing, sanitize their work area, leave time between shifts to deep clean, work around barriers, slow production, the list goes on. This has the effect of reducing output when they need to be increasing it.
These are the times we live in. Look around; it's not just ammunition that is hard to find.
End of sermon.
I concur with this statement by gregkl, and I think I hear more frustration in the voice of the Federal President, than anything else!
I used to be a biology/health teacher and I can understand the frustration that goes with working one's butt off and never having it be 'good enough'.
I agree, he could have had a more positive tone to the video, but at least he's addressing the issue that others have presented to him and is providing feedback.
Spelling out the facts regarding the current demand vs Covid-19 pandemic vs the hiring + training demands to keep up with product demands...is a logistics issue.
Thank you, sir, for responding to the critics and providing answers + explanations to the ongoing issue(s) regarding the current ammunition shortages in America.