First, most of what’s out there in the media and popular discussion is nothing less than ignorant. Sometimes I feel people watch too many movies and think they are real.
Under normal conditions it can take over a year to go from nothing to making something as simple as a certified N95 mask at scale. Under normal conditions component lead times in electronics can easily be in the 8 to 16 week range. Not to mention such things as manufacturing tooling, molds, test systems, etc.
Making hardware is hard for a reason. It takes time, and money can’t always accelerate the timeline.
And so, reporters pounding away at test kit, mask or PPE is ignorant and counterproductive. Making 100 million masks in haste could result in ineffective masks that provide little protection.
This problem is exacerbated by a supply chain that has been the subject of major disruption.
The sad reality is, when you don’t control the entire supply chain you can only accomplish so much. This is surely a lesson that might change the world post COVID-19.
Aside from that. It seems to me converting cruise ships to temporary hospitals might be the quickest way to expand capacity. They are self-contained little cities with rooms for thousands.
First, most of what’s out there in the media and popular discussion is nothing less than ignorant. Sometimes I feel people watch too many movies and think they are real.
Under normal conditions it can take over a year to go from nothing to making something as simple as a certified N95 mask at scale. Under normal conditions component lead times in electronics can easily be in the 8 to 16 week range. Not to mention such things as manufacturing tooling, molds, test systems, etc.
Making hardware is hard for a reason. It takes time, and money can’t always accelerate the timeline.
And so, reporters pounding away at test kit, mask or PPE is ignorant and counterproductive. Making 100 million masks in haste could result in ineffective masks that provide little protection.
This problem is exacerbated by a supply chain that has been the subject of major disruption.
The sad reality is, when you don’t control the entire supply chain you can only accomplish so much. This is surely a lesson that might change the world post COVID-19.
Aside from that. It seems to me converting cruise ships to temporary hospitals might be the quickest way to expand capacity. They are self-contained little cities with rooms for thousands.