Sign of unity
At Nissan's manufacturing plant in the UK, a team in the paint shop use British Sign Language to support hearing-impaired colleagues
- People
At the heart of every car that rolls off the production line at Nissan Manufacturing UK in Sunderland is an extraordinary commitment to teamwork.
In the Bumper Paint Shop, a new car is processed almost every two minutes. In this fast-paced environment, clear communication isn't just important – it's essential.
But what happens when some members of the team are deaf, making it challenging to communicate with colleagues?
When four colleagues with hearing impairments found themselves missing out on vital interactions, fellow team members took it upon themselves to learn British Sign Language to improve communication.
The power of communication: How one team’s initiative made their bond stronger3:24
Peter Haydon, a senior supervisor leading the Bumper Paint zone, was one of the 10 team members who committed to an 11-week course provided by Nissan.
"Some people on our team have hearing impairments, which made communication a challenge for our supervisors and our team on the production line," said Haydon. "We want all our people to feel included and part of the team, so we carried out a full review. One thing that everyone wanted was learn to sign."
Learning British Sign Language isn't easy; it demands focus and perseverance.
"By week six, we started to get the hang of it," said Haydon. "It's inspiring to see members of the team who went on the course now teaching others in the shop how to sign."
For Michael Connolly, one of the deaf operators on the team, the impact has been profound.
"In the past, there was a breakdown in communication due to a language barrier," said Connolly. "That barrier has now been removed. Morale among the team is improved. It's fantastic to see the team so enthusiastic about learning British Sign Language."
On top of the team's new ability, and to further improve accessibility, the paint zone physical area was overhauled so events like training, meetings and briefings can use visual aids. Sign language interpreters also come to the site regularly.
Michael Jude, HR director at Nissan Sunderland Plant, says team members learning to sign is more than a communication initiative; it's a powerful demonstration of the plant's – and Nissan's – core values.
"This team didn't just make adjustments – they went much further," said Jude. An example of people pulling together, the actions by a few in a large organization let everyone grow and follow the same career path as others.
"Communication is key to teamwork," said Haydon. "But we also want all our people to feel included and be their best at work."
On their own accord, Nissan employees learned sign language to help hearing-impaired teammates. Their action reflects Nissan's dedication to inclusivity and teamwork, breaking down communication barriers and ensuring everyone feels valued.
