Case Study: Anheuser-Busch InBev reduces production downtime with Minitab

Anheuser-Busch InBev cuts planned downtime by 34% with Minitab

Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's largest beer company, faced a challenge with increasing production line downtime. This planned downtime, necessary for start-ups and brand changes, was limiting the company's bottom line as it expanded its offerings to over 200 beer brands. To meet consumer demand for greater variety more efficiently, the company used Minitab Statistical Software to analyze the root causes of this costly downtime.

Using Minitab's suite of analytical tools, including Pareto charts, hypothesis testing, and control charts, a dedicated team identified inefficient procedures and significant differences between shifts. Minitab helped the team develop and validate a streamlined solution, which included a simplified one-page checklist and new training. This reduced planned downtime by 34%, cut related costs by over $430,000, and created a highly effective toolkit. The Minitab-enabled toolkit was so successful it was rolled out globally to more than 180 facilities, multiplying the project's impact exponentially.

Anheuser-Busch InBev