Coronavirus: General Motors says ventilators ready for delivery

General Motors has began mass production of the Ventec Life Systems V+Pro critical care ventilator under contract to the US Department of Health and Human Services.

In less than a month, Ventec, GM’s supply chain and its manufacturing, logistics, legal, and talent acquisition teams were able to deliver a 30,000-unit order from the US government.

More than 600 ventilators will be shipped this month, almost half the order will be filled by the end of June and the full order will be completed by the end of August. GM has the capacity to build more ventilators after August if needed.

GM and Ventec executives had their first conference calls on March 17 and March 18 to explore how GM could help Ventec increase ventilator production. The next day, a GM team flew to Seattle to meet with the Ventec team.

On March 20, GM involved its global supply base and within 72 hours, they had developed plans to source all the necessary parts. On March 25, GM staff began preparing the Kokomo site for production.

On April 8, the US Department of Health and Human Services awarded GM a contract under the Defense Production Act to build 30,000 Ventec V+Pro critical care ventilators.

“Thousands of men and women at GM, Ventec, our suppliers and the Kokomo community have rallied to support their neighbours and the medical professionals on the front lines of this pandemic,” said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra. “Everyone wants to help turn the tide and save lives. It is inspiring and humbling to see the passion and commitment people have put into this work.”

GM said the effort involved sourcing hundreds of parts and assemblies from suppliers; the design of a new manufacturing process; the transformation of GM’s Kokomo factory; the ongoing hiring of more than 1,000 manufacturing team members; and the implementation of extensive health and safety protocols in the workplace.

“GM’s rapid mobilization of America’s manufacturing might in defense of our country is a proud salute to the ingenuity of its engineers, the true grit of its UAW workers on the line, and America’s doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals fighting for our lives at the front lines,” said Peter Navarro, White House Assistant to the President.