Textile factories in Uşak increased their production capacities by switching to a three-shift system, as a result of the “blanket” campaign that started under the coordination of the Uşak Governorship. Blanket manufacturers produced about 1,5 million blankets in two weeks.
The crisis center, which was established in the Ministry of Industry and Technology, coordinates the aid of industrialists towards the earthquake region. The crisis center, which has been operational since the first moments of the earthquake, creates a telephone chain for urgent needs. The aid corridor, which consists of supply, production, logistics and distribution network, is kept open on a 7/24 basis. Necessary materials supplied or produced with the contributions of Organized Industrial Zones Supreme Organization (OSBÜK), Chambers of Commerce and Industry, NGOs, OIZ administrations and small and medium-sized enterprises are delivered to earthquake zones through AFAD and Turkish Red Crescent.
“24 hour work”
One of the emergency aid materials that the crisis center took action to reach the region as soon as possible in the first days of the earthquake was a blanket. Blanket manufacturers in Uşak rolled up their sleeves to send 1 million blankets to the earthquake zone. The workers working in the blanket factories started to produce 850 hours a day without interruption so that the earthquake victims 24 kilometers away would be less affected by the winter conditions.
“Current orders cancelled”
Textile factories operating in Uşak Organized Industrial Zone with the “blanket” mobilization started under the coordination of Uşak Governorate, first canceled the orders of their existing customers after the earthquake and directed all their blanket stocks to the earthquake zones. Blanket manufacturers, which simultaneously increased their production capacities, started production on a three-shift working system and on a 7/24 basis. Approximately 1,5 million blankets produced in Uşak, where a feverish work was carried out, were sent to the disaster area by air and road with 281 vehicles.
“Earthquake Special Production”
Altınsar Tekstil Business Manager Tuğrul Mahmut Yalvaç stated that they shipped the blankets in stock to the earthquake zone under the coordination of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, and said, “First, we sent 2 trucks. Later on, by increasing our working capacity, we put aside the works at hand and started special production for the earthquake zone.”
Noting that they have increased the production from 5 thousand to 15 thousand per day, Yalvaç said, "From Monday, all personnel worked with devotion, including Saturday and Sunday, 24 hours a day, with solid reinforcement, and even our friends in the shipment did not go to their homes for a few days."
Özerdem Mensucat Business Manager Emrullah Aydoğan said, “We had a daily production of approximately 10-15 thousand blankets. After the earthquake, we reduced our employees in carpet production groups by up to 25 percent and directed these people to blanket production groups. We increased our daily production from 15 thousand to 40 thousand. Clothing shifts from 8 hours to 12 hours; Shifts from 12 hours have increased to 24 hours.” said.
Explaining that they shipped 320 thousand stock blankets to the earthquake zone in the first 2 days at the time of the earthquake, Aydoğan said, “Our workers started to work selflessly and even did not receive overtime wages and said, 'Let us also contribute.' they said. Breaks were removed, production accelerated. Will there be fatigue? It will be a few days, but we will continue on this path as long as we contribute.” he said.
“Production increased with dedication”
Hair Textile Production Manager Hicran Yapıcı stated that since the first moment of the earthquake, they had turned all the blankets they had for customer orders into aid blankets and said, “Our yarn and weaving department was already working 7/24, but because it was the end of the season, our clothing department was not working 7/24, they also worked full time. . We were producing 4- 500 thousand pieces per day. Production increased with the new system and the dedication of our colleagues.” said.
Stating that they have produced more than 100 thousand blankets and sent them to the earthquake zone since the earthquake, Yapıcı said, “Friends in the shipment made extra effort and loaded up to 4-5 trucks per day. We still continue like this, we still haven't returned to our order production.” he said.