ENGINEERING POSITIONS IN THE BREWING INDUSTRY

Brewing is a capital intensive, high technology industry that offers a wide range of opportunities for mechanical, electrical, production and chemical engineering graduates. Brewery engineers may be involved in the development, operation or maintenance of modern processing plants and there are opportunities for career development into senior engineering and other management posts.

Brewery Engineering Management

There are opportunities to manage the engineering maintenance of Beverage production plants, which covers the brewing and beer processing plants, as well as high-speed packaging lines for kegs, bottles and cans. This involves the preparation and administration of the maintenance budgets and the training and motivation of a team of specialist craftsmen. Maintenance Engineers work closely with beverage plant managers to plan and execute maintenance so that the production schedules are achieved. The brewery engineering department also has the responsibility for the economic provision of all site engineering services, including steam, water and electricity and shares responsibility with production management teams for their efficient use. In many companies, the engineering department has responsibility for capital projects. This involves the preparation of budgets and specifications and the management and co-ordination of the contractors involved in the project

There are opportunities for all types of brewers and engineers in the research and development departments of the major brewing companies, although these are becoming more restricted.

Bodies such as The Brewing Research International (BRi) and Heriot Watt University maintain active research and consultancy services.

Other Brewing Industry careers

There are all sorts of other career opportunities in the Brewing Industry, for instance in cellar services, human resources, finance, sales and marketing, IT and logistics.

Cellar service technicians can now gain a level 3 NVQ in drinks dispensing systems.

Distribution and warehousing of the production is a major employer of people in the Beverage Industry and again offers training and careers in these aspects of the business.

Post Graduate Qualification for the Brewing Industry

Post-graduate qualifications, as already mentioned, for instance an MSc in Brewing and Distilling, are available from the ICBD at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. Several universities provide post graduate degrees in Biochemical Engineering.

Once professional qualifications have been obtained, many managers in the Brewing Industry study for other business qualifications such as an MBA.

The Institute of Brewing & Distilling supports ongoing training and education within the Industry, with a continuous programme of lectures, seminars and conferences and publications designed to keep everyone up to date.

Brewery Compliance / Logistics Manager Job Responsibilities

Review all Brand Labels & Packaging for Compliance with Alcohol Beverage Law.
Report distributor/broker changes.
Obtain and maintain Company and Individual employee licenses and permits.
Manage licensing and permit budget
Place replenishment orders for inventory and track orders through the proper supply chain line along with scheduling ocean, truck and rail transportation for warehouse receiving.
Responsible for the management of Documentation, and billing areas.

Position Skills/Requirements:

Bachelor's Degree required.
3 plus years experience in the beverage alcohol industry with experience and understanding of the three-tier system.
Strong writing/communication skills as well as analytical, organizational and problem solving skills
Strong interpersonal skills.