Sumitomo Rubber's Global Digital Transformation Strategy
Sumitomo Rubber Industries, one of the largest tyre makers in the world and manufacturer of such well-known brands as DUNLOP and FALKEN, has engaged Rockwell Automation to further its global digital transformation strategy. The initiative focuses on the optimization of manufacturing processes throughout Sumitomo Rubber's diverse plant locations around the world. By deploying Rockwell's FactoryTalk ProductionCentre, Sumitomo Rubber looks at standardizing production processes and improving efficiency while integrating production data across its operations.
The partnership aims to solve key business challenges, such as increasing material costs and labor shortages. By embracing digital technology, Sumitomo Rubber plans to improve production efficiency while continuing to maintain flexibility in its high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment. This is particularly important as the company seeks to strengthen its global presence and adapt to ever-evolving industry demands.
Rockwell Automation's Role in Enhancing Manufacturing Operations
Rockwell Automation, the world's largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, will be instrumental in Sumitomo Rubber's strategy to improve operational efficiency. FactoryTalk ProductionCentre, Rockwell's manufacturing execution system, is designed to optimize complex manufacturing processes in industries such as tire production.
Sumitomo Rubber has chosen FactoryTalk ProductionCentre because it shows seamless compatibility with the company's present systems, mainly its ERP system. The MES platform offers application-specific templates for tire production that can help optimize productions, reduce downtime, and scale up operations efficiently.
James Glasson, vice president of Global Industry Auto, Tire, and Advanced Mobility at Rockwell Automation, expressed confidence in the partnership, stating that FactoryTalk will enhance operational efficiency, minimize manufacturing risks, and accelerate speed to market. These benefits are especially crucial for tire manufacturers like Sumitomo Rubber, where production speed and flexibility are key competitive advantages.
Digital Transformation to Address Industry Challenges
In today’s industrial landscape, companies face several operational challenges. For Sumitomo Rubber, rising material costs and labor shortages are among the key obstacles. To counter these challenges, the company has chosen to embrace digital solutions that can drive higher efficiency, reduce costs, and improve product quality.
By adopting the MES solution from Rockwell Automation, Sumitomo Rubber plans to optimize both internal management and external customer-facing processes. It is expected that this digital transformation will raise productivity, compliance, and quality control across the board. The company's long-term vision is to deploy this new system in its Shirakawa plant in Japan first and then expand globally once initial evaluations are complete.
This deal with Rockwell Automation is part of Sumitomo Rubber's wider objectives to adapt to a rapidly changing business environment. As part of its strategy, Sumitomo Rubber intends to make its organizational structure stronger by 2025 to maintain competitiveness and agility for the demands of future markets.
The Impact on Sumitomo Rubber's Global Operations
The digital transformation at Sumitomo Rubber will, therefore, provide several benefits in the global manufacturing chain. Among the major ones will be the enhanced efficiency of production, improved product quality, and scalability of operations. Advanced automation solutions from this will help the company achieve better optimization of the high-mix, low-volume production model to meet global market demand.
The FactoryTalk ProductionCentre's capabilities will be crucial in enabling Sumitomo Rubber to minimize downtime, increase speed to market, and generally enhance operational agility. Sumitomo Rubber is going to continue with its digitalization process, leveraging AI and other advanced digital tools, to keep up with changes in the industry and be competitive in the tire manufacturing business.
Outlook: Scaling Up Digital Programs
Sumitomo Rubber's collaboration with Rockwell Automation is just the beginning of a wider digital transformation strategy that will continue to evolve over the coming years. The company intends to expand its use of digital technologies across all its global sites, with a focus on continuous improvement and adapting to future business challenges.
The company's future vision, targeted for 2026 and beyond, encompasses further integration of AI and machine learning into its manufacturing processes. These will enable Sumitomo Rubber to move beyond optimization of production toward anticipating market demands, reducing risks, and improving operational decision-making.
With the help of Rockwell Automation, Sumitomo Rubber is positioning itself for long-term success in an increasingly competitive and technology-driven global market.
