We offer remote checks of testing equipment as businesses restart.
1. How did Microplan operate during the lockdown period?
Prior to the coronavirus lockdown, we prepared our team with online access to all company MRP and web conference programs. We provided the staff with laptops and headsets so they could easily connect remotely from their homes. During the lockdown, our team was divided into working groups addressing technical support and design from home while maintaining production and testing at the Microplan factory. In this way, our company was able to continue activities during the lockdown period and even delivered test benches to our international customers.
2. What were your contingency plan if Microplan was required to close for the pandemic?
All customer support activities would remain available via remote connection by our team members working from home. Similarly, design activities would continue from home while production operations would be carried out by trusted outsourcing partners. In this way, we could continue assembly operations with our testing team working remotely or in person at our partner companies.
3. How would the shut down of outsourcing providers affect Microplan's ability to continue production?
A second contingency would involve the support from our team at Microplan East in China. Since they had already begun to resume their activities, they could carry out production on our behalf and supply spare parts to our customers around the world.
4. Have you had problems with your supply chain?
Microplan was both lucky and organized. We were fortunate because our supply partners managed to supply the raw materials we needed, with minimal delays. Our organization of critical inventory has proven effective in this difficult situation, allowing us to continue production with minimal delays.
5. How did you manage the acceptance of the Microplan test systems which usually takes place with the presence of the customer?
We activated a web conference technology to combine sharing the screen of the test system computer with video showing the appliance under test. Our technicians executed tests under real conditions and explained the operation to our customers, step by step. In parallel, we developed and published online technical tutorials to strengthen our web content.
6. How did Microplan support its customers in these difficult times?
In addition to the technical support provided through the usual channels, we offered a free remote check- up to customers who restarted their test benches after weeks of inactivity. For the Microplan team, it was a way to put our slogan into practice: Your tests, we care!