A system and process for packaging fluid products such as milk and other
beverages is disclosed. The fluid product is produced when required and in
response to a customer order. For example, milk is received and stored in
a raw milk storage silo and separated into two varieties having different
butter fat content. A customer order is processed and the system creates
labels and fills containers or bottles exactly to meet the customer
requirements. The products are palletized and loaded for shipment to the
customer. Preferred filling equipment locates a container on a load cell
to measure a predetermined amount of the first variety of milk into the
container. The container is then filled with a second variety of milk by
weight, if necessary, before capping. A supervisory control system directs
bottle making, labeling, filling, bundling, and palletizing with virtually
no inventory of empty bottles, preprinted labels, finished or prepackaged
product inventories. The system and process provides a micro dairy that
applies these features to a warehouse distribution network.
