Cummins Inc. plans to resume production at most local manufacturing facilities next week after they were temporarily shut down earlier this month due to market disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Currently, company officials expect Columbus Engine Plant, the Fuel Systems Plant (FSC and XPC) and the Seymour Engine Plant to reopen Monday. However, the restart date for Cummins’ MidRange Engine Plant in Walesboro, which supplies a facility in Mexico with the Dodge Ram engine, is still uncertain and depends on when Fiat Chrysler, the maker of the Dodge Ram, resumes production.
“The plan is for all the manufacturing sites to resume on May 4,” said company spokesman Jon Mills. “CMEP is uncertain because it is reliant on (Fiat Chrysler).”
Earlier this month, Cummins had announced it would temporarily shut down all its southern Indiana manufacturing plants beginning the week of April 6.
The plant closings were staggered to ensure the company could build enough inventory to meet customer demand, according to a company message to employees.
For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Republic.
