Background
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (Southern Glazer’s) stands as a leader in the alcoholic beverage distribution industry, a position solidified by the 2016 merger of two long-standing competitors, Southern Wine and Spirits and Glazer’s Distribution. This union created a vast and complex enterprise, operating across numerous facilities with diverse operational needs and state-specific regulations.
Before the full adoption of a unified system, individual sites often managed maintenance with homegrown solutions, leading to inconsistencies, a lack of centralized data and limited visibility into critical operational metrics. This decentralized approach, while practical in the past, became unsustainable as the company grew and optimized its extensive supply chain.
The challenge was clear: how to standardize maintenance, gain comprehensive asset visibility and drive efficiency across such a varied and expansive operational landscape.
Moving from siloed facilities to a consistent, scalable maintenance strategy
Amid the complexities of integrating two major companies and navigating a volatile industry climate, Southern Glazer’s recognized the imperative to modernize its operations. “When we were smaller, each site had to be resourceful and run its own business,” says Sean Kelly, Senior Director of National Operational Effectiveness. “There was not a lot of standardization.”
This fragmented approach made it difficult to track spending, optimize inventory and implement consistent maintenance strategies across their 30+ distribution centers, which vary drastically in size and operational model.
In 2023, Southern Glazer’s made a strategic move to implement Asset Essentials, a comprehensive computerized maintenance management system (CMMS), across all its main production facilities. Brightly’s flexibility and collaborative approach were crucial. Brightly was later acquired by Siemens. The team tailored the solution to Southern Glazer’s specific needs, including everything from managing conveyor systems to facility-wide maintenance.
Kelly selected Asset Essentials as Southern Glazer’s asset management system because of its customization capabilities and strategic customer service team. Brightly Software, now known as Siemens Asset Management, allowed Kelly to be, what he fondly refers to as, “a modification monster.”
The initial rollout involved a significant collaborative effort, with Kelly recalling, “It was an extremely collaborative effort. We needed a lot of help. Brightly [Siemens] was very flexible with us and waited for us to get our houses in order.”
Today, approximately 250 full-time users leverage Asset Essentials daily, transforming how Southern Glazer’s manages its vast array of assets.
Realizing ROI with a full organizational maintenance strategy
Southern Glazer’s most significant achievement has been the shift toward a proactive maintenance culture. “We are doing more preventative maintenance than ever, and it’s leading to less downtime,” Kelly says.
This strategic shift is clearly reflected in their impressive 90% preventive maintenance to 10% reactive maintenance ratio, a testament to their commitment to proactive asset care, and has directly contributed to a 7% reduction in downtime from 2023 to 2026 — a critical improvement for an organization where operational continuity is paramount.
Beyond reducing downtime, Asset Essentials has dramatically improved the efficiency of maintenance operations. The work order completion rate, a key indicator of responsiveness and effectiveness, has increased substantially, rising from 60% in 2023 to 83% in 2026 for work orders completed before their expected date. This improvement supports promptness in addressing critical maintenance tasks, minimizing disruptions and maximizing asset lifespan.
The system has also provided unprecedented visibility into inventory and spending, enabling data-driven decisions that directly impact the bottom line. “I can utilize the dashboards,” Kelly says, “and I can go to the Chief Financial Officer right now and show him the total value of our inventory.” This has led to tangible financial benefits, including an 11% reduction in inventory parts and dollars on hand from 2023 to 2026 year to date, with an ambitious goal of a 25% reduction by 2030.
This optimization not only frees up capital but also allows for more strategic inventory sharing between facilities. Furthermore, data from Asset Essentials has enabled Southern Glazer’s to negotiate more favorable agreements with material-handling equipment vendors, locking in pricing for spare parts and avoiding high markups.
Growing strategically with top-notch partners
Southern Glazer’s views Asset Essentials not merely as a maintenance tool, but as a strategic partner in its continued growth and acquisition strategy. The system provides a playbook for integrating new facilities and methodologies, enabling seamless transitions and immediate operational efficiency.
Kelly emphasizes the strength of the partnership, praising the top-notch customer service, technical support and responsiveness to their feedback. As Southern Glazer’s continues to expand its footprint and embrace new challenges, Asset Essentials remains an indispensable tool, driving operational excellence and securing a competitive edge in a dynamic industry.