Jaime Jurado (1), Chris Bourgeois (1), Peter Koestler (2), Jonel Wolleat (2); (1) Abita Brewing Company, Abita Springs, LA, U.S.A.; (2) Abita Brewing Company, Covington, LA, U.S.A.

Technical Session 11: Engineering and Packaging
Monday, August 15  •  9:45–11:30 a.m.
Plaza Building, Concourse Level, Governor’s Square 15

In packaging, operating equipment efficiency, %OEE, is related to common metrics, such as availability = actual operating time/planned operating time. A stepped approach to improve packaging line uptime begins with quantification and sharing of efficiency metrics, and includes within it other steps, including audits which include self-reported machine downtimes by operators, to 4-hr (in-house) “third-party” audits, to 24-hr audits. Application of a stepped approach I applied at Abita Brewing Company to increase %OEE in a 450-package/min line illuminates methodical and incremental improvements to %OEE from contributions from different areas of the company and its vendors. Measured results will be shared in this presentation.

Jaime Jurado serves as director of brewing operations at Abita Brewing Company in Louisiana. His undergraduate degree is in chemical engineering, and his master’s degree is in electrical engineering; he did additional postgraduate study and engineering research for three years. Having been employed in breweries since 1983, encompassing national breweries, regional breweries, and craft breweries, Jaime has had the privilege of working with many dedicated packaging managers and their teams across his career. He is also a past president of the MBAA.