Oct 22, 2021

Supply chain: Hutchinson plant implementing rolling furloughs

Posted Oct 22, 2021 4:00 AM

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Supply chain issues are forcing Siemens Gamesa to implement a rolling furlough through the Hutchinson nacelle plant. 

Company spokesperson Myca Welch says the furloughs are underway and will continue through December.

The company had to furlough 200 workers in April of 2020 when the pandemic was putting a severe break in the supply chain from overseas. The furloughs were short-lived, however, and most workers were back at their jobs by the end of April.

Welch says the company strategy is to have employees work 50 percent of the weekly hours and utilize the Kansas Shared Work Program which allows employees to collect a portion of available unemployment benefits to supplement their reduced work hours.

Welch also said that with the additional deterioration in the global supply chain, especially the unprecedented congestion at the West Coast ports, the company has been forced to cut some full weeks of production this month.  Welch also said that the company will be under reduced work hours through December (as originally planned) but will need to adjust week to week based on the supply chain.