Thor Industries announced its North American operating companies reopened their assembly operations today, May 4.
“Today is a huge day for us. While our teams are excited about getting back to work again, our primary focus is on making sure that we do so in a safe way,” said Thor Industries President and CEO Bob Martin.
Thor announced that, in limited capacities, each of its operating subsidiaries will be resuming operations in May, with the first wave of plants opening Monday, May 4. Among new protocols in place to protect employees, no third- party visitors will be allowed at Thor offices or plants until further notice except those that are essential for the operation of its businesses.
“During the recent temporary shutdown which began in mid-March, our management teams have worked tirelessly on staying on top of the developments of the pandemic and studied best practices of companies returning to work” Martin said. “The result of this work was the development of Thor’s Return to Work Playbook which was created with essential input from the leadership teams at our operating subsidiaries along with guidance from medical professionals and key organizations like the Centers For Disease Control.”
According to Martin, the playbook is comprehensive and includes detailed protocols such as requiring complete plant disinfection, specific social distancing protocols whenever feasible and
personal protective equipment (PPE) when distancing is not feasible, requirements for the use of masks by all team members and a mandatory daily health screen that includes a temperature check.
“While we are all anxious to get back to work at our company, in our region, and across the country, it is essential that we reopen in a way that is safe for all of our team members. That is what is most important to us right now,” Martin said.
Thor, he added, also has contributed to local communities by donating RVs for use in various capacities by first responders, including units being used in conjunction with virus testing sites, as well as donating thousands and thousands of PPE items, including masks and face shields, to a number of hospitals and care centers.
“Additionally, numerous team members have donated to other causes ranging from food banks to first responder organizations, as we all join the fight together,” he said. “Our whole industry has responded. I’ve watched our competitors, suppliers and dealers step up, too. It makes me proud to see the impact we can make when we all align to take on a common foe like this virus.”
The company will follow CDC recommendations, as well as taking other manufacturing-specific precautions to keep employees healthy and confident in their workplace.
“From the parking lot to and through our plants and offices, our teams will follow strict health and safety protocols specific to preventing the spread of the virus, including social distancing,” Martin said. “Inside our plants, signs depicting key aspects of our protocols are everywhere.”
Additionally, no third- party visitors will be allowed at Thor offices or plants until further notice except those that are essential for the operation of its businesses. Those visitors that are deemed essential will go through a health screen, including a temperature reading before entering the facilities.
“Our team members are our Company and keeping them safe during this time and at all times is incredibly important to us,” Martin said. “Getting back to work is important to us, to our dealers and retail customers.”
Martin also said dealers have continued to see strong retail interest.
“Retail sales, while deeply impacted by State and local restrictions, surpassed our expectation in April,” he said. “As we look ahead, it’s undeniable that the RV lifestyle is a great way to social distance, create unforgettable family experiences, and to just get away and recharge.”
Thor, said Martin, looks forward to a strong run—both for its subsidiaries and the industry— as the economy fires back up.
“But all of that excitement can only be realized if we all do this in the right way – which is with our employee’s safety at the forefront, and, at Thor, we are focused on doing just that.” he said.
