How asset maintenance in food and beverage manufacturing is quietly driving industry progress

Walk into almost any food or beverage factory and you’ll hear the same priorities: keep the lines running, control costs and deliver reliably to customers. These goals aren’t new – but the way manufacturers are achieving them is evolving fast.

Investment is up – but so are expectations

Recent research from the Food & Drink Federation shows that 84% of manufacturers say they plan to maintain or increase investment over the next year. Nearly half are focusing on new plant and machinery to improve automation, while a third intend to increase R&D spend to support product innovation.

The same optimism is visible in M&A activity, which has reached an eight-year high. For many leaders, this isn’t just about growth – it’s about readiness. From alternative proteins to complex SKUs and higher compliance demands, manufacturers are preparing for a more challenging future.

The overlooked link between investment and maintenance

Asset maintenance is no longer a back-office function; it’s a strategic enabler. A recent piece in Food Engineering highlighted an important point: the benefits of automation, data and AI depend entirely on the reliability of the kit on the factory floor.

That’s why forward-looking businesses now treat asset maintenance as the foundation of their wider transformation plans. According to the RS 2024 Maintenance Engineering Report, process manufacturers face the highest downtime costs (£5,798.48 per hour) and are increasingly adopting preventative and predictive strategies to stay ahead. At MARCH®, we see asset maintenance as a cornerstone of operational resilience.

Why putting maintenance off is a false economy

When budgets are tight, it can be tempting to defer maintenance in favour of headline-grabbing capital projects. But a line that’s unreliable won’t help you hit production targets, no matter how advanced the rest of your technology stack.

Reliable assets don’t just reduce breakdowns. They:

• Extend the life of expensive machinery.

• Provide a stable base for integrating automation and new product runs.

• Support compliance and quality assurance in highly regulated environments.

• Give teams the confidence to plan shifts and production schedules without unexpected stoppages.

In short, every big innovation still relies on the basics being done well.

What we see on the ground at MARCH®

At MARCH®, we engineer progress by combining resident engineers with predictive tools to shift from reactive fixes to planned interventions. Our integrated approach spanning mechanical, electrical, automation and digital disciplines ensures maintenance decisions support the wider operation.

From spotting vibration anomalies before shutdowns to extending asset lifecycles by months, our work often goes unseen, but it delivers measurable impact. We help leading brands unlock up to 10% OEE uplift through smart maintenance and integrated engineering.

Resilience is the competitive edge

For food and beverage manufacturers dealing with volatile demand, high energy prices and pressure on margins, resilience has become the true competitive edge.

Those who keep their assets running reliably, integrate smart technology on top, and build compliance into daily routines will be in the best position to scale quickly when new opportunities arise.

An invitation to talk

Every production line is different, but the principle holds true: well-maintained assets make everything else easier.

If you’re weighing up how to balance investment in new technology with the realities of keeping today’s plant running, we’d be happy to share what we’ve learned from supporting some of the UK’s most complex food and beverage sites.

Book your complimentary engineering review to explore how asset maintenance can unlock hidden capacity and future-proof your operation.