YouBar doesn't just make protein snacks; they reinvent them. From custom protein bars to baked goods, their Innovation Kitchen works at the speed of the wellness movement.
Partnering with chefs and food scientists, they launch custom formulations for retailers and top fitness influencers faster than competing brands. Their skill and agility help their customers seize the next big nutrition trend before it peaks.
A COO's Promise: Reliability and Uptime
With rapidly changing line requirements and premium ingredients in the mix, food and beverage brands live and die by equipment reliability.
Chief Operating Officers already handle complex OEE metrics and tight margins. Throw in physical strain from shifting dietary trends, and the stakes are through the roof.
Every Formula Brings New Challenges
- Protein: Thicker doughs add massive torque on extruders and rollers, leading to premature bearing failure.
- Keto: High-fat formulas mean non-stop kettle melting, stressing heating systems despite lower horsepower.
- Baked Goods: Larger items call for new packaging formats, slowing down line changeovers.
Dennis Flynn, YouBar's COO, shares why preventive maintenance makes a difference:
"Nothing kills your OEE faster than downtime," said Flynn. "So, that small weekly PM to change one bearing, it doesn't happen one week, and all of a sudden you have a $10,000 cost down the road."
The "Good Enough" Trap
Many operational leaders fall back on their existing workforce or ERP software to avoid incurring new costs. The problem is that those systems weren't built for the shop floor.
YouBar once relied on workforce software for PMs, but mechanics often skipped logging parts and labor because the system lacked detailed work order inputs. Without specific equipment data, tracking production costs was nearly impossible.
When limited maintenance workflows created gaps and inconsistencies, Flynn knew that their operations required precision that ERPs and HR programs couldn't match.
From Workarounds to Winning Strategies
The fix came from the people who understood the equipment better than anyone.
YouBar's CMMS coordinator used MVP One at a previous job and saw its strengths: thorough cost tracking, clear reporting, and dynamic preventive maintenance scheduling.
Staff buy-in was critical to standardize PM data. With the stamp of approval from someone directly coordinating tasks for 150 employees, Flynn was reassured that MVP One could deliver real operational control instead of just another software layer.
Turning Blind Spots Into Operational Clarity
With trust secured between leadership and mechanics, Flynn could focus on simplifying his OEE-tracking pain points. From moving production sites to adding a new bakery facility, consistency mattered.
MVP One's cloud doesn't just compile and centralize PM data; it helps C-suites visualize preventive repairs and related costs through an easy-to-digest dashboard and customizable reports.
"Having one cohesive feel across both facilities was very important," said Flynn. "Knowing the exact cost inputs for every piece of equipment really gives us a competitive edge."
Building a Culture of Uptime
- Team Alignment: During implementation, both frontline workers and leadership picked up labor and parts inputs seamlessly with MVP One's hands-on training and built-in support library.
- Instant Asset Management: With QR codes linked to every asset, mechanics scan the machines to immediately access repair histories and SOPs without endless scrolling or digging through binders.
- Flexible Scheduling: Planners can adjust PM intervals during upticks in dietary trends. This dynamic scheduling allows production to stay ahead of wear patterns while maintaining output for existing customers.
- Real-Time Cost Tracking: MVP One's dashboard and reporting module give leadership a clear view of labor and parts spend, streamlining repair/replace decisions to keep operational costs low.
The ROI of Engagement
Uptime climbed by 10% after implementation despite the increase in weekly PMs for new equipment.
With a consolidated CMMS dashboard, Flynn can view all PMs at a glance, tie them to an employee's skill set, schedule repair tasks within their availability, and deploy them between sites much faster than their workforce management system.
Beyond uptime gains, MVP One reshaped internal communication. With every PM logged in mechanic-specific language, maintenance became a team sport instead of a siloed department.
"We saw more feedback from not only our line workers but also our mechanics. It became a centerpiece of engagement." Said Flynn.
Navigating the Protein Boom and Beyond
Dennis Flynn compares preventive maintenance to personal health.
"Similar to exercising and eating healthy, (breakdowns) will catch up to you if you don't do it early and don't do it often." Said Flynn.
A reactive-first mindset isn't optional. In a low-margin industry where recipe-driven wear makes production unpredictable, MVP One provides the backbone for consistency - ensuring every pivot is backed by data.
How COOs Keep Their Promise With MVP One
- Easier Team Coordination: Unified PM data and QR code access keep staff and leadership on the same page across facilities.
- Operational Control: Adaptable schedules and clear reporting give COOs visibility into every cost input and maintenance decision.
- Accurate OEE Tracking: Detailed parts, labor, and downtime data simplify OEE measurements and reveal true asset costs.
- Fast Adjustments: By analyzing historical PM data, teams can forecast wear and schedule repairs ahead of demand surges.
Future-Proofing YouBar
With MVP One, YouBar can pivot quickly at the first sign of a new wellness movement. This flexibility lets their Innovation Kitchen spend more time on cutting-edge formulations.
Looking ahead, Flynn sees vibration analysis and IoT sensors as the next frontier. By feeding real-time data into their CMMS, they're moving from preventive maintenance to true Asset Intelligence.
MVP One backs their growth by ensuring that no matter what trend is around the corner, their lines are ready to run.
"MVP One is definitely on the upswing of its lifecycle. There's a lot of hunger for innovation. It's very exciting." Said Flynn.
With shared technology and expertise, YouBar is ready to lead the next era of nutrition.
