Google Cloud Platform Case Studies AB InBev: Optimizing Beer Manufacturing with Machine Learning

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	AB InBev: Optimizing Beer Manufacturing with Machine Learning Google Cloud Platform

AB InBev: Optimizing Beer Manufacturing with Machine Learning

Google Cloud Platform

Technology Category	Analytics & Modeling - Machine Learning Functional Applications - Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)
Applicable Industries	Packaging Retail
Use Cases	Chatbots Predictive Maintenance
Services	Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services Data Science Services
Challenge	Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), a global corporation known for its popular beer brands like Budweiser, Corona, and Stella Artois, was facing challenges in optimizing its beer filtration process. The filtration process, which is crucial for achieving the best beer taste and meeting brand-required turbidity levels, involves many unpredictable variables. The existing technology could only handle basic logic, using meters to monitor and react to adverse conditions such as a change in pressure. AB InBev recognized the potential of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) in leveraging a larger dataset to better predict and prevent potential issues during filtration. However, the company needed a partnership and provider that could enable them to deploy ML quickly and effectively. Read More
About Customer	Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) is an international corporation with global headquarters in Belgium. Founded in 2008 from the merger of InBev and Anheuser-Busch, AB InBev's global beer brands include Budweiser, Corona, and Stella Artois. The company is committed to embracing the future and innovating to stay competitive. As part of this commitment, AB InBev partnered with Pluto7, a technology solutions provider, to optimize its beer filtration process using machine learning and artificial intelligence. Read More
Solution	AB InBev partnered with Pluto7, a technology solutions provider that uses Google Cloud services to improve operations at manufacturers and other companies. Pluto7 developed a prototype solution that enabled AB InBev to optimize the beer filtration process with much greater accuracy. The solution combined TensorFlow, Cloud Machine Learning Engine, Cloud SQL, and BigQuery. Working with Pluto7, the AB InBev team evaluated six months of manufacturing data from its Newark, New Jersey brewery. The data was fed into a TensorFlow ML engine run through Google Cloud. Through this process, they identified more than 50 specific parameters that displayed potential predictive ability, which were then used to revolutionize their system. Currently, AB InBev is working with Pluto7 to scale the solution to multiple brewery locations, with plans to deploy the solution at all K Filter and similar filtration systems globally. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Analytics & Modeling - Machine Learning

Functional Applications - Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)

Applicable Industries

Packaging

Retail

Use Cases

Chatbots

Predictive Maintenance

Services

Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services

Data Science Services

Challenge

Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), a global corporation known for its popular beer brands like Budweiser, Corona, and Stella Artois, was facing challenges in optimizing its beer filtration process. The filtration process, which is crucial for achieving the best beer taste and meeting brand-required turbidity levels, involves many unpredictable variables. The existing technology could only handle basic logic, using meters to monitor and react to adverse conditions such as a change in pressure. AB InBev recognized the potential of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) in leveraging a larger dataset to better predict and prevent potential issues during filtration. However, the company needed a partnership and provider that could enable them to deploy ML quickly and effectively.

About Customer

Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) is an international corporation with global headquarters in Belgium. Founded in 2008 from the merger of InBev and Anheuser-Busch, AB InBev's global beer brands include Budweiser, Corona, and Stella Artois. The company is committed to embracing the future and innovating to stay competitive. As part of this commitment, AB InBev partnered with Pluto7, a technology solutions provider, to optimize its beer filtration process using machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Solution

AB InBev partnered with Pluto7, a technology solutions provider that uses Google Cloud services to improve operations at manufacturers and other companies. Pluto7 developed a prototype solution that enabled AB InBev to optimize the beer filtration process with much greater accuracy. The solution combined TensorFlow, Cloud Machine Learning Engine, Cloud SQL, and BigQuery. Working with Pluto7, the AB InBev team evaluated six months of manufacturing data from its Newark, New Jersey brewery. The data was fed into a TensorFlow ML engine run through Google Cloud. Through this process, they identified more than 50 specific parameters that displayed potential predictive ability, which were then used to revolutionize their system. Currently, AB InBev is working with Pluto7 to scale the solution to multiple brewery locations, with plans to deploy the solution at all K Filter and similar filtration systems globally.

Impact #1	The implementation of machine learning and artificial intelligence in the beer filtration process has not only improved the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the process but also ensured the best possible beer taste. The success of this initiative has gained attention, with AB InBev being showcased at the 2018 Google Cloud Next conference in San Francisco and selected as a Finalist for the Supply Chain Breakthrough of the Year awards at Gartner's 2019 SCM World conference. The company is now working on scaling the solution to multiple brewery locations, demonstrating its commitment to continuous innovation and improvement.

Impact #1

The implementation of machine learning and artificial intelligence in the beer filtration process has not only improved the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the process but also ensured the best possible beer taste. The success of this initiative has gained attention, with AB InBev being showcased at the 2018 Google Cloud Next conference in San Francisco and selected as a Finalist for the Supply Chain Breakthrough of the Year awards at Gartner's 2019 SCM World conference. The company is now working on scaling the solution to multiple brewery locations, demonstrating its commitment to continuous innovation and improvement.

Benefit #1	Increases the barrelage per run by 60% through longer filter runs
Benefit #2	Reduces costs of filtration
Benefit #3	Increasing the length of each filter run by 40% to 50%

Benefit #1

Increases the barrelage per run by 60% through longer filter runs

Benefit #2

Reduces costs of filtration

Benefit #3

Increasing the length of each filter run by 40% to 50%

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Overview

AB InBev: Optimizing Beer Manufacturing with Machine Learning

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit