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AccuWeather's Tornado Warning Saves Lives and Ensures Business Continuity for Equipment Manufacturer
Applicable Industries
- Buildings
- Equipment & Machinery
Applicable Functions
- Facility Management
Use Cases
- Onsite Human Safety Management
- Search & Rescue
The Challenge
The world’s largest construction equipment manufacturer, with one of its most vital plants located in Oxford, MS, faced a potentially catastrophic situation when a devastating tornado struck the plant. The facility, which produces 1.1 million industrial couplings each month for use in almost every bulldozer, dump truck, and excavator the company produces, was directly in the path of the tornado. The disaster threatened not only the lives of the employees but also the company-wide production, putting the organization at risk of the most severe production crisis in their history. The challenge was to ensure the safety of the employees and minimize the impact on the company's operations.
About The Customer
The customer in this case study is the world's largest construction equipment manufacturer. One of their most vital plants is located in Oxford, MS, where it produces 1.1 million industrial couplings each month. These couplings are used in almost every bulldozer, dump truck, and excavator the company produces. The plant's operational uptime is essential to the company's overall production. The company has a robust Emergency Action Plan in place, led by a health and safety coordinator, to ensure the safety of its employees during emergencies.
The Solution
The solution came in the form of a timely tornado warning issued by AccuWeather. At 5:37 pm, before the tornado hit, AccuWeather issued a warning for a storm 18 miles away. At that time, no other weather agency had issued a warning for the plant location. The warning was received via text message by the plant’s health and safety coordinator, who immediately moved 88 people into shelter per her Emergency Action Plan. At 5:59 pm, the tornado struck. Thanks to AccuWeather’s warning, no injuries occurred as everyone had moved to shelter in a safe and orderly way. The plant’s staff was able to resume operations at a nearby facility within a matter of days, showcasing a business continuity success story.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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