Three questions, three answers: Éric Kummer
Éric Kummer, Head of Operations FMT at Sartorius Stedim Biotech in Aubagne, France, provides information about the impact of COVID-19 on production in Aubagne.
This article is posted on our Sartorius Blog.
Éric Kummer, what effects does COVID-19 have on the everyday work of Sartorius employees at our site in Aubagne?
Not all of our employees are currently able to work as usual. About 800 of slightly more than 1,000 employees are currently working: 428 people work from home, 372 people at the Aubagne site.
We had to adapt to the current circumstances and prioritize certain production areas, but also reorganize the teams to ensure the continuation of our production.
What measures has Sartorius taken to protect its employees in Aubagne?
As already mentioned, we have rearranged teams and reduced the number of people on site. We have also restricted access to certain areas which had been identified as sources of contamination.
In general, however, Sartorius employees are used to strict protective measures. Our products are manufactured in the already highly regulated environment of our clean rooms. Wearing masks and overshoes as well as frequent hand washing are part of our daily work routine, every day of the year.
Which products are currently manufactured in particularly high quantities?
We prioritize all products that our customers need to fight COVID-19 or to treat cancer. In short, products that can save lives. If our customers do not have access to laboratory material, bioreactors or disposable bags, their production stops. In the long term, this would also mean that patients could no longer be supplied with vital drugs.
