According to Bill Leber, director of business development for Buchs, Switzerland-based Swisslog, “Capital decisions cast long shadows.” In other words, when a company is investing millions of dollars into a manufacturing or warehouse facility, it needs to make sure it’s making the right decisions because they will impact the business for years to come, he says. Therefore, it’s important to select equipment, plant layouts and facilities that not only can stand the test of time but also can keep up with industry trends.
One of the biggest trends beverage-makers are experiencing is SKU proliferation, experts say. Typically, companies turn to facility planners when they have run out of space, says Jack Holleran, president of HDA Architects LLC, St. Louis.