Empowering Communication: How Nissan's Sunderland Plant Masters Sign Language for Teamwork
Nissan's Sunderland Plant epitomises teamwork. Six thousand individuals unite seamlessly to produce hundreds of thousands of cars annually.
But what happens when you're stationed in a production zone alongside deaf team members who can't engage in the ongoing verbal communication essential for constructing a car every two minutes?
The solution? Everyone embraces learning sign language.
Peter Haydon, the Senior Supervisor at the plant’s Paint Shop, shares his experience: “Four team members are deaf, which initially posed communication hurdles for our supervisors and production line team.
“Most importantly, we strive to ensure every team member feels valued and integrated. Following a comprehensive review, a unanimous decision emerged: everyone wanted to learn sign language.”
Ten team members, including Peter, embarked on an eleven-week course to learn sign language basics.
Peter, who spearheads the Bumper Paint zone, remarked, “Mastering sign language proved challenging initially... It wasn't easy to absorb, and staying focused was crucial.
"However, the team's eagerness to learn propelled them through the training. By the sixth week, they began to adapt. It’s inspiring to witness those trained sharing their new skills across the shop.
“Effective communication underpins teamwork. But beyond that, we aim for every team member to feel included and perform their best. These enhancements allow operators to develop and progress within our team like other staff.”
In addition to adopting sign language, the zone also revamped its approach to include more visual aids in training, meetings, and briefings. Despite their growing proficiency, sign language interpreters are still regularly invited to the site.
Michael Connolly, one of the deaf operators, expressed, “Previously, communication gaps due to language barriers were frequent, but now part of that barrier has been dismantled.
“Morale within the team has significantly improved, and it’s wonderful to see such enthusiasm for learning sign language.”
The plant's HR director, Michael Jude, added, “We’ve always accommodated deaf operators by adapting their work environments to be safe and efficient.
“However, with four deaf individuals in this team, they chose to take extra steps. It’s a remarkable testament to our team’s commitment to support each other and extend beyond the usual measures.”