The usage of what is commonly called "Big Data" can play a key role in the operation of any craft brewing company.
How that data is gathered, analyzed and implemented can make a large difference in the efficiencies and profitability of any sized brewer, from new startup to the established multi-state operation.
Nearly all brewers recognize that attention to detail is really a hallmark of the industry. It could make the difference between success and failure. This includes execution of a daily routine that ensures ingredients are mixed and formulated properly, then properly processed by way of a kegging and bottling system, and, ultimately, results in the replication of a high quality product. This should be accomplished with a production output essential to sustain profitability.
The entire brewing process must be completed with only a small amount waste as possible. Any variation, large or small, can decelerate the operation, impede production, and compromise taste. The outcome could be a slowdown in delivery times, loss of customers, and a big upsurge in overall costs.
In order to maintain consistency, many in the market are now turning to data gathering systems. These systems can include software that can be automated to accumulate hundreds of pages of information. Nevertheless the challenge for some becomes not merely the collection of the info itself but also how to dig through it, decipher it and utilize it to improve business operations.
Fortunately new data gathering software has been specifically made for the craft brewing industry. Not only can the software be utilized to get rid of the mountains of data which may be pertinent to other styles of businesses but not to brewers, nonetheless it can also monitor key regions of operation impacting the brewer's' specific brewing process.
This software could be customized to monitor and even improve mashing-plato (balling), temperature (conversion) and raise times. It could provide info on Lauter tun-first wort plato, lost Hansel plato, amount of bed cuts, runoff time total and grain out time. Items such as brewkettle-kettle full plato, wort cooling, fermentation, time from fill to attemporation, centrifuge turbidity, yeast brink, filter and CIP can also be tagged as needed.
The software can help the brewer with full system monitoring, setup alerts predicated on production and performance, watch output comparisons by day and time, and track inventory and materials.
A few of the automated software may also provide cloud based reporting for 24/7/365 access on a PC, laptop or mobile device. It could use all servers and workstations, and multiple devices. The program may also be appropriate for any PLC including Siemens and Allen-Bradley devices.
https://get.brewninja.net can be adjusted to provide only the most crucial reports and information. Instead of continuously polling and storing data, it can focus on specific program triggers and collect specific data at specific points in time, at specific process conditions. This provides a detailed comparison in one day's operation to another, enabling the brewer to make adjustments as necessary.
A brewer can also find programs offering a complete system back-up, support and updates. Some systems are fully customizable to meet up the needs of the average person brewery.
Corporations and multi-national beer producers purchased various types of big data processes for quite some time. Big data has helped them not only monitor and improve the manufacturing process but additionally with pricing and marketing.
Now craft brewers, of most sizes, can benefit from the benefits of data gathering and analyzation. The development of new software programming, combined with ease of cloud based reporting, can help the brewer greatly improve business operations while greatly increasing profits.
David Moye is a Principal with DataSnare and Forensic IT, a company providing customized data answers to craft brewing companies and manufacturers nationwide. David helped found Forensic IT and DataSnare software, and contains some 25 plus years of experience as a software engineer and solution architect. Along with at least a half a dozen core programming languages, he could be a certified DBA in Oracle and Sybase and contains spent years dealing with MS-SQL and MySql.