In many industries, the current broad frame reference seems to deal with an overall view of the supply chain with emphasis on distribution rather than specific areas covering processing, packaged production and related operations. This is especially true in beverage plants where packaged production is the core of the chain.
Because focus appears to be on the distribution phase, the vital nature of packaged production often can be overlooked. The beverage industry supply chain, with variations depending upon products, packaging and distribution channels, is challenged in the production phase (production lines) because there constantly are changing operating situations (market driven) that can require major adjustments.