The Scotts Company, LLC Improves Safety and Reduces Costs with the ShockWatch ImpactManager RF

Aug. 1, 2007
This case history about The Scotts Company comes courtesy of ShockWatch. It has been selected and edited by the MHM editorial staff for clarity, content

This case history about The Scotts Company comes courtesy of ShockWatch. It has been selected and edited by the MHM editorial staff for clarity, content and style.

Goal | Improve worker safety and reduce facility damage
Solution | ShockWatch ImpactManager™ RF (previously named Shockswitch RFID)
Result | 75% decrease in material handling equipment damage

The Scotts Company, LLC, a division of Scotts Miracle-Gro®, is the world's largest supplier of lawn and garden products for homeowners and professional horticulturalists. Dedicated to innovation, and focused on growth and profitability, Scotts needed a way to improve worker safety and reduce facility damage in their Marysville Manufacturing and Distribution operations in Marysville, Ohio.

Dave Hoover, President of Forklift Training Systems which is the local distributor for ShockWatch, was certain that controlling vehicle access and monitoring activity was the solution. Working together with Bill Johel from ShockWatch, they recommended the ImpactManager RF, a wireless monitoring system which would help Scotts reduce incidents by limiting access to only certified operators. Simple to install and use, this system significantly reduces truck abuse, accidents, and maintenance costs. By monitoring activity for every driver and all vehicles, management can review and analyze reports for additional training needs, utilization opportunities, and OSHA compliance.

“Our return on investment in the ImpactManager RF system has been tremendous,” said Joe Oiler, Manager of Health and Safety for The Scotts Company. “We’re very focused on safety at every level of our organization, so Shockwatch is a great match for us. With the ImpactManager RF, we’ve seen a 75% decrease in damage involving our material handling equipment. You can't get much better than that.”

Scotts now utilizes over 60 ShockWatch units in the Marysville plant. Units are mounted on all of Scotts’ mobile equipment, including sweepers, lift trucks, front-end loaders, and several track mobiles that move rail cars. Scotts plans to build on the successes in Marysville and incorporate the ImpactManager RF on every additional piece of material handling equipment purchased, and is extending its use to other locations.

MHMonline.com welcomes relevant, exclusive case histories that explain in specific detail the business benefits that new software and material-handling equipment has provided to specific users. Send submissions to Clyde Witt([email protected]), MHM Editor-in-Cheif. All submissions will be edited for clarity, content and style.