Volkswagen Chattanooga, which furloughed about 2,500 production and maintenance workers earlier this month amid the COVID-19 outbreak, will have employees return to work on May 3.
The automaker plans to restart operations at the assembly plant in phases, gradually increasing production volume over the course of several weeks, the company said.
Each phase will progressively lessen restrictions, with the final phase being a complete return to normal operations.
"We've dedicated the past several weeks to implementing stringent health and safety measures," said Tom du Plessis, president and CEO of Volkswagen Chattanooga. "After assessing the current situation, we've decided to resume production under clear safety measures and with the health of our employees as our highest priority."
The action actually will lift a six-week suspension of operations at the plant due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The factory suspended production out of an abundance of caution last month prior to government stay-at-home mandates.
Meanwhile, VW Chattanooga said it has put more than 90 new measures into place to limit contact and help ensure safe working spaces.
The automaker said steps include providing new personal protective equipment, including masks and gloves, implementing temperature checks upon entrance, establishing six-foot distancing barricades and floor markings, ceasing shuttle transportation, increasing disinfection frequency of all contact surfaces, such as machinery and door handles; and replacing plated cafeteria meals with packed lunches. The company said it will continue visitor and on-site event restrictions.
Also, VW's medical team will evaluate and coordinate appropriate measures for any employees who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms, or who are otherwise ill, at-risk, or have underlying medical issues, the automaker said.
In addition, Volkswagen will continue to monitor public health and government guidance on COVID-19 and adjust operational plans as necessary as the situation evolves.
Denise Rice, the manufacturing consultant for the Tennessee Manufacturers Association, said earlier this week that companies will have a higher health standard at they operate in the weeks, months and possibly years ahead in the wake of COVID-19.
"For many months, we'll be putting these [recommendations] into place," said Rice, who sits on an economic recovery subgroup for the Tennessee panel that's expected to make suggestions as early as next week.
The Chattanooga plant, which builds the Passat sedan, Atlas SUV and Atlas Cross Sport SUV and employs a total of about 3,800, plans an initial restart production schedule of a five-day, eight-hour work week for most shops. Shift and break times will be staggered, the company said.
The factory suspended production March 21 prior to stay-at-home mandates from state and local government.
Volkswagen employees and production contractors received full pay and benefits during this time, for a total of three additional weeks of compensation. On April 11, production and maintenance employees were placed on temporary emergency furlough.
Furloughed employees continued to receive health care benefits and coverage of premiums during this time, according to VW.
Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @MikePareTFP.