In 2020 we have been struck by uncertainty but one thing is for sure; The BBC and other reporters have been shouting about the way in which talent and skill in the motor industry can help with the current needs of our NHS. Putting the use of equipment , knowledge and clean environment into the construction of additional ventilators has been in the news, knowing your role in the industry carries transferable skills is important So read on to find out a little bit more.
On the 19th March 2020 The BBC reported on the Formula 1 teams are working with government and health authorities to increase the supply of ventilators during the corona virus crisis.
Ventilators are a device used to help supply more air to patients with breathing difficulties, one of the effects of severe coronavirus symptoms.
The majority of F1 teams are aiming to work out ways to use their engineering facilities to boost production.F1 said the aim was to “provide as much help and assistance as we can”.A number of teams have applied-technologies divisions that could directly feed into the national production capacity of ventilators in the UK and Italy, particularly McLaren, Red Bull, Williams, Mercedes and Ferrari. But all teams have advanced manufacturing capability that could potentially be used to make complex devices such as this, and as many will help as can.
The idea is to increase the supply of the existing design of ventilators rather than try to come up with a new approach. The UK is estimated to need an extra 20,000 ventilators to deal with the crisis as it develops over the coming months.
It is hoped that an approach can be agreed within the next week that will help teams feed into capacity as quickly as possible, to boost the capability of health services to deal with increasing numbers of patients with breathing difficulties.
On the 23rd of March 2020 BBC News reported on companies such as Prodrive and other manufactures and Motorsport partners that are also well equip to be able to deliver on the same initiative.
Three consortia have been recruited to the ‘wartime’ effort to build the mechanical breathing aids, which are critical in the care of some people suffering corona virus. And cash from the foreign aid budget is now being used to tackle the shortage.
The Department for International Development is working with Frontier Technology and University College London to find designs for ventilator systems already used in developing countries that can be quickly adapted and built in the UK. NHS chief Sir Simon Stevens has admitted there are only 8,175 ventilators available out of the 30,000 that medical planners fear will be needed. If the imminent surge in cases happens too soon, there will not be enough to keep patients alive – meaning agonising decisions about which patients are not given them.
Midlands-based firm Meggitt – which produces oxygen mask systems for aircraft – is spearheading the aerospace consortium. The UK team at Japanese car maker Nissan is heading up the automotive group, and Formula One manufacturer McLaren is running the motor sports consortium.
The three groups have each been given until next week to produce a prototype. There are also at least three UK ventilator manufacturers which are stepping up operations, but many of the key components they use are made in China or elsewhere in the Far East.
Boris Johnson wants to harness the skills of British industry and has asked 60 engineering companies, including car giants, if they can adapt their production lines to make the vital parts in the UK instead of relying on imports.
So there it is, our Priminister is recognizing the skills and knowledge that is held in our industry and hopes we can harness this for the good of the population. At the IMI would like anyone out there looking into careers and thinking about studying in this industry to make sure they know how important their roles are not only in times of need but in peoples everyday lives.
Credit to the BBC and Sam Greenhill and Francesca Washtell from the Dailymail