Optimizing Scheduling for the Beverage Industry

OSI built an optimization-based tool to help a leading manufacturer of fruit-based beverages automate its tactical planning process. The customer saw large returns in ROI and improved asset utilization.
Written by
Vijay Hanagandi
Published on
April 8, 2025

Case Study: Schedule Optimization

Optimizing Scheduling for the Beverage Industry

A leading fruit-based beverage manufacturer needed an optimization-based application to automate its tactical planning process. By leveraging advanced mathematical modeling, OSI developed a solution that enables rapid analysis of asset utilization, ensuring cost-effective decisions regarding additional raw materials and maximizing return on investment (ROI).

The Challenge

The manufacturer needed a better way to handle seasonal production cycles,manage multiple product lines with strict sequencing requirements, and process perishable raw materials efficiently. Cost optimization was critical, but reliance on Excel and MS Project limited visibility into financial impacts. Additionally, the company required a decision-making framework to evaluate surplus raw materials when market conditions changed.

OSI was tasked with developing a tactical planning solution that:

  • Produced cost-optimal, feasible schedules
  • Honored sequencing constraints
  • Provided an intuitive, user-friendly interface

The Solution

To ensure cost-effective scheduling, OSI implemented a mathematical programming-based approach rather than heuristic-based solutions. The application was built on a platform with:

  • A best-in-class graphical user interface (GUI)
  • The ability to interface with advanced Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) solvers
  • Seamless integration with the company's existing workflows

The application was tested using real production data from the previous year’s harvest. Its user interface was designed to streamline data input and decision-making, ensuring a smooth transition from the manual planning process.

Key Results & Benefits

  • Drastically Reduced Planning Time - Decision making cycle times were reduced from hours to minutes
  • Optimized Asset Utilization – Improved forecasting and scheduling enhanced production efficiency.
  • Better Financial Visibility – The new system provided clear insight into the cost impact of scheduling decisions.
  • Improved Buy Decision Capability – Enabled real-time analysis of purchasing opportunities when surplus raw materials became available at lower costs.

OSI delivered a high-performance tactical planning solution that introduced the client to model-based decision-making for the first time.

Notable features include:

  • A powerful GUI with GANTT chart visualizations
  • Flexible scenario analysis, allowing adjustments to key inputs and objectives
  • The use of high-powered MILP solvers, capable of generating optimal production schedules in minutes
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Optimizing Scheduling for the Beverage Industry

Vijay Hanagandi
April 11, 2025
2 minutes

Case Study: Schedule Optimization

Optimizing Scheduling for the Beverage Industry

A leading fruit-based beverage manufacturer needed an optimization-based application to automate its tactical planning process. By leveraging advanced mathematical modeling, OSI developed a solution that enables rapid analysis of asset utilization, ensuring cost-effective decisions regarding additional raw materials and maximizing return on investment (ROI).

The Challenge

The manufacturer needed a better way to handle seasonal production cycles,manage multiple product lines with strict sequencing requirements, and process perishable raw materials efficiently. Cost optimization was critical, but reliance on Excel and MS Project limited visibility into financial impacts. Additionally, the company required a decision-making framework to evaluate surplus raw materials when market conditions changed.

OSI was tasked with developing a tactical planning solution that:

  • Produced cost-optimal, feasible schedules
  • Honored sequencing constraints
  • Provided an intuitive, user-friendly interface

The Solution

To ensure cost-effective scheduling, OSI implemented a mathematical programming-based approach rather than heuristic-based solutions. The application was built on a platform with:

  • A best-in-class graphical user interface (GUI)
  • The ability to interface with advanced Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) solvers
  • Seamless integration with the company's existing workflows

The application was tested using real production data from the previous year’s harvest. Its user interface was designed to streamline data input and decision-making, ensuring a smooth transition from the manual planning process.

Key Results & Benefits

  • Drastically Reduced Planning Time - Decision making cycle times were reduced from hours to minutes
  • Optimized Asset Utilization – Improved forecasting and scheduling enhanced production efficiency.
  • Better Financial Visibility – The new system provided clear insight into the cost impact of scheduling decisions.
  • Improved Buy Decision Capability – Enabled real-time analysis of purchasing opportunities when surplus raw materials became available at lower costs.

OSI delivered a high-performance tactical planning solution that introduced the client to model-based decision-making for the first time.

Notable features include:

  • A powerful GUI with GANTT chart visualizations
  • Flexible scenario analysis, allowing adjustments to key inputs and objectives
  • The use of high-powered MILP solvers, capable of generating optimal production schedules in minutes
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Case Studies
Food & Beverage
Insights
Vijay Hanagandi
April 11, 2025
2 minutes