CASE STUDY: Weekend Shutdown Saved with Same-Day Bearing Delivery
Weekend shutdowns are often the only realistic window for thorough maintenance, but when plans change at the last minute the pressure ramps up fast. If a critical part isn’t on site before the team starts work, the whole shutdown can slip, labour time is wasted, and production restart dates come under immediate risk.
Late on a Friday afternoon, an animal feed production plant got in touch with Jay Goodgame, ACORN’s MRO Sales Specialist. They had a shutdown scheduled for the next day and urgently required two bearing units on site before 10am on Saturday so they could start maintenance straight away. It was a tight deadline, and the customer needed complete confidence that the parts would arrive in time.
The usual route would have been to book a courier service on an urgent delivery, but recent issues with last-minute courier collections and delays meant there was too much uncertainty. The customer didn’t just need the right parts; they needed a delivery method that removed risk and protected the shutdown window.
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The Solution
Jay quickly assessed the situation and proposed a more reliable alternative. Rather than relying on a courier network, he offered the customer a direct, immediate taxi service to collect and deliver the parts that same day. It was the simplest way to keep control of timings and ensure the delivery happened exactly when and where it needed to be.
With support from the UK Sales team, ACORN moved quickly to quote and process the order without delay. The bearings were picked from stock, packed, and handed straight to the taxi service for direct delivery. By 7.30pm that evening, the customer had the parts on sire, ready and waiting for the maintenance team the next morning.
The Outcome
By switching from a standard urgent courier route to a direct delivery option, ACORN helped the customer avoid uncertainty and protect their shutdown schedule. The maintenance team could start work immediately on Saturday morning without having to pause, re-plan, or wait for late parts to arrive. Just as importantly, the plant avoided the wider knock-on effects that come from a delayed shutdown, including wasted labour hours and extended downtime.
This job is just one example of what customers rely on ACORN for during high-pressure maintenance windows: responsive communication, practical decision-making, and access to stock when it matters.