International brewer Heineken selects technology solutions provider Infor to complete a global standardisation programme.

Infor’s Cloud-based technology Advanced Scheduling will help Heineken to optimise its production capacity across the network, reduce production complexity and improve purchasing power.

Planning to implement the technology at Heineken’s breweries in 20 countries, Infor Advanced Scheduling is aiming to standardise nearly 90% of the operations in the breweries.

As part of the global standardisation programme, the brewer chose to implement the technology template throughout operating companies across the world, following a successful trial in two of its breweries in Italy.

The template is estimated to help Heineken to reduce its inventory levels of items such as glass bottles by 40%, enhance production capacity by 10% and improve the workload scheduling consistency in the breweries.

“Strategic applications such as Infor Advanced Scheduling mean that we can extend this control across our breweries and offer a route to improved profitability and much greater efficiency.”

Infor’s Advanced Planning helps the brewer to optimise its sales and operational planning (S&OP) process.

Heineken strategic planner Ad van Delzen said: “It is vital for us to reduce complexity in our operations and keep control of production.

“Strategic applications such as Infor Advanced Scheduling mean that we can extend this control across our breweries and offer a route to improved profitability and much greater efficiency, without losing the individual characteristics of that brewery or beer.”

The technology firm was selected based on Advanced Scheduling’s enhanced functionality, in addition to the firm’s domain expertise.

Infor global solution consulting vice-president Phil Lewis said: “The brewing micro vertical is one of the most complex manufacturing industries.

“By standardising operations, there are often very quick wins that can be realized and then augmented by quicker new product introduction or better alignment of production and customer demand.”

With 16,500 employees, Infor serves 90,000 customers in more than 170 countries with its Cloud-based applications.