Klosterbrauerei Andechs Integrates Zebra Mobile Computers with Traditional Craftsmanship for Increased Supply Chain Visibility
Klosterbrauerei Andechs has seamlessly combined its centuries-old monastic brewing traditions with modern technology by adopting Zebra TC58 mobile computers. Founded in 1455, the brewery is renowned for producing high-quality beer while preserving its cultural heritage.
Zebra Success Story: Klosterbrauerei Andechs
Overview: Transportation & Logistics Challenge
Klosterbrauerei Andechs sought a solution that could ensure complete traceability of its supply chain while speeding up internal processes. The result was a handheld mobile device with built-in scanner, enabling tracking and analysis of deliveries at the touch of a button.
Benefits / Outcomes
- Enhanced supply chain and quality assurance
- Smoother tracking and tracing of deliveries
- Increased precision and visibility of inventory management
Customer
Klosterbrauerei Andechs
Munich, Germany
Partner
Industry
Transportation and Logistics
Solutions
About Klosterbrauerei Andechs
Bavaria-born brewery Klosterbrauerei Andechs has been practising the monastic brewing tradition since 1455. Its story, however, begins in 1128, when the beer was used to supply those making the pilgrimage to the holy mountain of Andechs. Today, it is run by an independent, lively religious community – one of the last of its kind in Germany.
Based in southwest Munich, the brewery is unique. It has stayed true to its historic, monastic brewing methods and produces an impressive 100,000 hectolitres of beer in compliance with the German Purity Law of 1516. The beer is brewed exclusively in the monastery. The brewing plant has been continuously modernised through targeted investments and kept at the cutting edge of technology. The Andechser Klosterbrauerei thus combines its commitment to preserving the monastery’s identity with sustainable growth.
The Challenge
Klosterbrauerei Andechs is not just a brewery – it is also a passionate and conscious community. Since 2003, around 30 million euros have been invested into preserving the high quality of the beer, as well as making the brewery an attractive place to work for its employees. Since 2000, the eco-balance has also been continuously improved thanks to Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)-certified environmental management.
The community also meets the mandatory EU Regulation 178/02 which stipulates that all companies within a supply chain must be able to prove from whom they have purchased goods, and to whom goods have been delivered. The Andechs monastery brewery sources the four raw materials authorised under the Purity Law - water, malt, yeast and hops - from various suppliers. The flavoured hops, for example, come from Bavaria’s Hallertau region, the largest contiguous hopgrowing area in the world north of Munich. The customers are also diverse: supermarkets, restaurants and beverage markets throughout Germany and many European countries. All of this adds up to a huge supply chain that must be traceable according to EU regulations.
Now we can carry out a complete analysis within a few minutes. This shows us which batch was produced and bottled when and which customer received it.
The Solution
To ensure traceability, the company uses the TC58 mobile computer from Zebra to power warehouse management. The scan-based system records every keg, beer crate and unit of stored goods using a combination of Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) codes and batch numbers to gather information such as article numbers and shelf life. While this keeps supply chain compliance in check, it is also used to track when customers receive their goods and the quantity received – which, before October 2023, had been stored in a complex Excel spreadsheet. Now, deliveries are tracked, traced and analysed at the touch of a button.
Because of this, process optimisation has accelerated and quality assurance has significantly increased quality assurance and at all times throughout brewery operations. “Thanks to the visibility and precision we get from the scanning processes, we come very close to 100% correct loading,” explains Georg Filgertshofer, Head of Internal Sales and Expedition. “This pleases our partners in the retail sector and contributes to our brand as a tradition-conscious and innovative monastery brewery. And quite simply, it makes our work much easier.”
The Zebra Difference: Outcome and Benefits
One of many benefits to the Zebra TC58 is its internet connectivity via mobile data using a SIM card, which was especially important to the brewery as it prioritised the ability to use the devices throughout the premises. With WLAN-based devices, which rely on the range of the network, this would have been impossible. With the Zebra TC58’s scanning range of up to 10 metres, forklift operators needn’t leave the vehicle to scan – they can capture goods conveniently from the driver’s seat.
The particularly robust and reliable TC58 devices were recommended and implemented by Zebra Business Partner Dynamic Systems, a company based in Seefeld, Bavaria. Dynamic Systems is a system provider for industrial labelling and offers individual components as well as customised complete solutions for automated identification and traceability and is very familiar with Zebra solutions. Dynamic Systems’ proximity to the brewery in Andechs is also an advantage. The two companies are less than ten kilometres apart.
“Thanks to the new solutions, we now have access to secure data,” says Filgertshofer. “Previously, it was much more difficult to fulfil the legal requirements in order to carry out a product recall quickly and in a targeted manner, should it become necessary. Now, however, we can carry out a complete analysis within a few minutes. This shows us which batch was produced and bottled when and which customer received it.”
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