---
url: 'https://www.fmjlaw.com/manufacturing-resilient-businesses/'
title: 'Manufacturing: How to Continue to Build Resilient Businesses'
author:
  name: Georgie Stocks
  url: 'https://www.fmjlaw.com/author/gstocks/'
date: '2020-08-07T06:00:00+00:00'
modified: '2021-08-10T16:27:31+00:00'
type: post
categories:
  - COVID-19 Resource
  - COVID-19 Resource
  - Event
  - Newsroom
  - Thought Leadership
  - Video
image: 'https://www.fmjlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/AdobeStock_354250761.jpeg'
published: true
---

# Manufacturing: How to Continue to Build Resilient Businesses

Last week, [Jim Seifert](https://www.fmjlaw.com/professional/james-j-seifert/) (head of FMJ’s Manufacturing practice) presented on a webinar with [Choice Bank](https://bankwithchoice.com/)‘s, [Crystal Hatcher](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-hatcher-89426a32/) (EVP, Chief Risk Officer). During the webinar, they discussed the three scenarios of the COVID-19 pandemic and the implications of these scenarios for manufacturers, which manufacturers are thriving amid the global pandemic and why, and suggestions on how to continue to build COVID-19 resistant businesses, including the importance of cybersecurity.

Here are Jim’s top five takeaways from the webinar “Resilience in Manufacturing: How to Continue to Build COVID-19 Resistant Businesses.” 

## #1 Expenses

- Examine all non-direct sales-related expenses/costs and discounts. Retention of your business is valuable, even critical.
- Re-examine non-customer facing functional overhead (finance, HR, legal, etc.) and seek discounts.
- Re-evaluate real estate and do a detailed examination of whether remote work increases or decreases production.
- Digitize as much of the sales process as possible.

## #2 Talent

- Now maybe the best time to change the organization in order to strike the right talent mix.
- Highly talented people from large organizations, especially in the manufacturing space, are on the street, so it might be a good time to look into hiring if you are able.

## #3 New Markets

- The return to United States manufacturing movement is real.
- New markets have revealed themselves amid COVID-19 such as manufacturing related to cleaning, sanitization, remote workspaces, remodeling/customization of living spaces, virtual schooling, home health, etc.
- Infrastructure government repair and other infrastructure programs will be an obvious way to create jobs and jumpstart the recovery.

## #4 Opportunities within Existing Markets

- Spike in demand for anything related to baking, gardening, traditional hobbies (from woodworking to bees).
- Create a “value” line with good margin.
- Might be time to increase capacity if demand soars and is forecasted to last more than a year.

## #5 Cybersecurity

- Humans are the weakest link in cybersecurity.
- Train employees regularly about the risks, the preventative measures in place, and your acceptable use policies.
- Create strong policies around password requirements (length, complexity, and expiration), use of email, internet usage, removable media.

## The manufacturer’s mindset must be on resiliency! If you’re interested in viewing the webinar, the replay can be found [here](https://vimeo.com/442841714). 

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