CRB releases new Horizons: Operational Readiness report
Jun 17, 2025
Food and beverage makers understand that in capital projects, what you don’t plan for can cost you – so why do so many projects fail to meet their launch deadlines, jeopardizing a manufacturer’s speed-to-market advantage?
That’s among the questions at the heart of CRB’s newest Horizons: Operational Readiness report. Based on original survey data from leading food, beverage and consumer products companies, the 2025 report explores how the smartest teams are taking the guesswork out of startup by investing in readiness from day one.
CRB surveyed nearly 400 industry leaders for the report and found that many manufacturers still underestimate the time, training, and toolsets required to achieve a vertical ramp-up. The report identifies costly missteps in readiness planning: missing stakeholder voices, rushed equipment commissioning, backloaded training, and misaligned expectations. It also provides templates and strategies to help meet speed-to-market goals.
CRB’s latest Horizons: Operational Readiness report uncovers why many food and beverage projects fail to meet launch deadlines, affecting speed-to-market. The report, based on survey data from nearly 400 industry leaders, identifies critical readiness planning issues such as missed stakeholder inputs, rushed equipment commissioning, inadequate training, and misaligned expectations. Available here as a free download, it offers strategies to overcome these challenges by involving operators early and using structured readiness toolkits.
“Our clients face intense pressure to launch successfully,” said Ken VonderHaar, CRB’s Director of Client Engagement. “This research aids them in embedding readiness into their processes.”
The Horizons: Operational Readiness brings fresh data to the food, beverage and consumer products manufacturing industries over three main topics:
- Preparation and planning
- Toolset development
- Commissioning
About CRB
CRB is a leading provider of sustainable engineering, architecture, construction and consulting solutions to the global life sciences and food & beverage industries. From 21 offices across the United States, Canada and Europe, our professionals provide world-class solutions that drive success and positive change for our clients, our people and our communities. CRB is a privately held company with a rich history of serving clients throughout the world, consistently striving for the highest standard of technical knowledge, creativity and execution. See us at crbgroup.com, and follow us on LinkedIn.