Adapting to a changing world of risk: How Mueller Industries is building long-term resilience.

Mueller Industries, Inc., headquartered in Collierville, Tennessee, has spent decades cementing its reputation as a leading global manufacturer of copper and copper alloy products. Their portfolio goes beyond copper, covering aluminum, steel, and plastics for industries ranging from building construction and appliances to defense, energy, and automotive. With operations spanning North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, Mueller’s robust catalog includes tubing, fittings, valves, and a host of other essential components for plumbing and HVACR systems, as well as parts for OEM applications.

Ensuring the safety and resilience of a diverse network of facilities is no small challenge, and for Mueller, the stakes have grown alongside their global footprint. At the heart of Mueller’s efforts is Chuck Blanton, the Corporate Environmental Health, Safety and Sustainability Director. Chuck’s role involves everything from risk management and facility audits to loss prevention and environmental compliance; responsibilities made all the more important by ongoing growth and new acquisitions.

For Chuck and his team, partnership with Zurich Resilience Solutions and its property risk engineering specialists has proven invaluable. “Zurich has been extremely good in helping us understand, identify and prioritize where we need to make improvements, upgrades or modifications. They’ll tell us where we need to address a specific issue and allocate resources. And they give us guidance on things we can hold off on until later”, says Chuck. His praise for Zurich’s clear, tailored approach echoes throughout the company.

Both Mueller and Zurich are committed to a culture of continual improvement. Recent discussions have featured comprehensive reviews of risks, projects, and plans for the future. Mueller’s rapid responses to Zurich’s risk improvement actions, particularly at newly acquired sites, stood out—before-and-after comparisons showcased real, tangible progress.

“Zurich’s team is very pragmatic”, Chuck observes. “Their guidance and actions are really tailored to what makes sense for our business specifically”. By cutting through the noise, Zurich enables Mueller to deploy resources where they are needed most, whether that's enhancing sprinkler systems, upgrading motor control rooms, or replacing aging oil filled breakers.

This pragmatic and consultative approach delivers direct business impact. Mueller has implemented safety and property standards across existing and newly acquired facilities, reduced their Experience Modification Rate* (EMR), and cut overall loss costs, including insurance premiums. Investments recommended by the risk engineering specialists have driven approximately $6–8 million in targeted upgrades to critical infrastructure, directly protecting high-value assets and ensuring business continuity.

Beyond physical improvements, Zurich's support helps instill consistency and reliability across all locations, a key benefit as Mueller continues its international expansion. Chuck appreciates not only the expertise but the relationship he has built with Zurich’s Jim Taylor. “Jim Taylor is without a doubt, one of the best people I've ever worked with on things like this. When I ask him a question, he'll give me a straight answer, one that is clear, concise, direct. If Jim tells me we need to take action or make investments for improvements, I am confident it is something we need to do".

Working closely with Zurich Resilience Solutions Mueller achieved significant progress in the following areas:

• Safety Standards: Implementation of targeted safety actions, resulting in lower EMR, loss costs, and premiums.
• Capital Efficiency: Guided investments for improved sprinkler coverage and facility protection—totaling up to $8 million in strategic upgrades.
• Operational Consistency: Enabled safety standards at newly acquired sites and ensured that operational best practices extended across the organization.
• Strategic Planning: Advice for prioritizing high-exposure risks ensured resources went where they would drive the most impact.
• Compliance and Regulation: Expertise supported environmental, health, and safety regulation compliance—a necessity in the modern manufacturing environment.

Perhaps most telling is Chuck’s assessment of Zurich’s value as a source of confidence that gives them long-term advantage. For Mueller, Zurich’s straightforward, insightful advice, and responsive partnership translate directly to operational resilience and a safer workplace for their people now and in the future. By partnering with Zurich Resilience Solutions, Mueller isn’t just adapting for today’s risks, they’re strengthening future resilience across their global operations.

* Experience Modification Rate (EMR) is a numerical factor used by insurance companies to assess the risk level of a business, primarily in workers’ compensation insurance. It compares a company's actual loss history (claims for workplace injuries or illnesses) to what is expected for similar businesses in the same industry.