Quality Products with Innovation Aspiration
Bridgestone is proud to manufacture high-quality premium tires and rubber products – production downtimes are therefore particularly frustrating. When machines break down, factory teams often spend hours analyzing data from various IT/OT systems to find the cause.
Near real-time data could speed up this process – but is confined within isolated software applications. At the same time, global performance comparison is challenging because data is scattered across many regions.
“These plants have historically developed independently – with different technologies and data structures. One of our challenges is to standardize and consolidate that to create a foundation for more advanced solutions.”
– Bart Kerkhofs, VP of IT
Data Islands and Rate Loss
Bridgestone aimed to increase the efficiency of the machines by reducing so-called “rate losses” – these are small disturbances, delays during setup, adjustments, or brief stops that reduce output, even though there is no total failure.
The goal was to gain insights from global plants that improve the daily work of employees and maximize output.
Microsoft Fabric, Azure AI and Avanade
With the support of Avanade, Bridgestone implemented Microsoft Fabric (part of the Microsoft Cloud for Manufacturing) and an AI agent in Azure AI to:
correlate machine data, downtimes, and losses
enable simple voice queries for employees
connect data from IT and OT in a unified architecture
“Data is key,” says Saoia Mielgo, Shop Floor Program Manager. “If the data is not correctly mapped, the answers to colleagues' questions are not helpful either.”
The collaboration with Avanade, the joint venture of Microsoft and Accenture, helped in the implementation:
providing expertise
building modern data pipelines
supporting data harmonization
Empowerment & Efficiency
With the new architecture, employees can recognize, understand, and solve problems faster – regardless of their experience.
„The agent in Azure AI enables anyone to talk to the data and solve problems or optimize quality metrics“
– Marina Furmanchuk, Director IT Manufacturing Strategy.
Additionally, the system provides:
Preventive and proactive measures
Fewer reactions, more proactive actions
Bridgestone also focuses on the digital training of workers: “We have invested in the digitalization of our blue-collar employees – and also in their education. This increases the value of each individual,” says Kerkhofs.
Scalable, Future-Proof Technology
"It is incredibly exciting to build not something short-lived, but something that will endure in the future," says Furmanchuk. "With the Microsoft Cloud for Manufacturing, we are taking three steps forward – with an architecture that is future-proof and offers the latest features."
Bridgestone is already planning the expansion into other areas and sees clear advantages:
Less Waste
More Efficient Processes
Optimized Resource Utilization
More Work-Life Balance and Safety for Employees
Competitive Advantages and Better Value Proposition for Customers
