Kickstart: 'Normal' is running a bit behind schedule

A week ago, Ford Motor Co. talked about starting up production at some assembly plants as early as April 6. On March 31, it called off that plan.

Instead, restarting production will be delayed indefinitely, according to Automotive News.

Ford CEO Jim Hackett told a Detroit radio station he wanted to avoid reopening plants too early and that he hoped to get production running after April.

"My gut tells me we're in to May now," Hackett said on WWJ Newsradio 950.

He's not alone. During the the virtual version of Antec 2020, Dow Inc. CEO Jim Fitterling said he doesn't expect much to return to normal until the second half of the year. Or even later.

"My sense is by mid-year, we're returning to work," Fitterling said. "By the third quarter, hopefully, or the fourth quarter we're starting to return to normal, but my guess is returning to growth is probably something that'll be more of a 2021 time frame."

Add Coca-Cola Co. and Georgia Tech to the groups working together on projects to provide face shields to medical personnel.

The Atlanta technical university and Emory University developed a "rapid response" program to supply the shields to medical personnel responding to COVID-19 patients. The soft drink giant aided by donating 6,000 pounds of plastic sheeting, enough for 50,000 shields, Georgia Tech officials said.

Many of the shields being turned out are fairly low-tech, but they're far better than going without or other makeshift items, as Rich Williams envisioned in an editorial cartoon for Crain's Cleveland Business. (If the style looks familiar, Rich is also the editorial cartoonist for Plastics News.)

A reminder that I'm collecting the ways you're staying centered in these crazy times. I'll post some of them in Friday's Kickstart. Just drop me a line at [email protected]. (Cute kid photos and motivational posters also welcome!)

The project shown above is via the Twitter stream of the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester, N.Y., the home of the Toy Hall of Fame. If you're looking for something to amuse the kids. Or adults.