Honda has begun producing and delivering critical components for the production of ventilators to Reading, Pa.-based compression manufacturer Dynaflo Inc. The auto manufacturer teamed up with Dynaflo to increase the company’s production of diaphragm compressors, a key component of portable ventilators that are used to treat COVID-19 patients.
The companies are aiming to produce 10,000 compressors per month once production reaches capacity. (They expect that to be the end of August.)
“Honda associates have successfully transformed a portion of our technical training center into an assembly line that will help support the urgent need to produce ventilator components,” says Rick Schostek, executive vice president, Honda North America, Inc. “With our supply of these key components to Dynaflo, we hope to help address one of the most pressing needs within the COVID-19 crisis.”
Honda has transformed a 6,000-sq. ft. area of its Technical Development Center in Marysville, Ohio, into a space for associates to assemble the compressors. The process was developed using production know-how from Honda’s manufacturing associates, including parts tracking, build timing, quality checks and lot control. These practices were essential in enabling Honda associates to quickly ramp up production over the first weeks of the project while maintaining social distancing protocols, company officials say.
Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, Dynaflo had been making compressors at the rate of about 75 per week. In order to increase its production capacity, Dynaflo required substantial help. To this end, Dynaflo and Honda partnered with Stop the Spread, a coalition of more than 1500 volunteer CEOs working in Washington, D.C. and around the U.S. to catalyze actions and support the government in response to COVID-19. Stop the Spread connected Dynaflo to Honda, and the two companies teamed up to meet this critical need for more portable ventilators.
To ensure consistency and quality, Honda associates have worked closely with Dynaflo personnel to learn best practices in compressor assembly. The training has provided Honda associates the ability to build and quality test the devices prior to shipping.
