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Bridgestone: Building the Tyres of Tomorrow
Articles- Sep 26,26
As manufacturing enters a digital era, Bridgestone India is transforming its plants through automation, data-driven intelligence and sustainable practices. Ashlin Rajan explores this journey with Uday Wagde, Executive Director - Manufacturing Operations, Bridgestone India.
A modern factory is no longer defined only by production capacity. It is becoming an intelligent ecosystem where machines, data and people work together to improve precision, efficiency and sustainability. For the tyre industry, where consistency and quality are critical, smart manufacturing is reshaping how products are designed, produced and delivered.
Bridgestone India’s manufacturing journey reflects this transformation. With two manufacturing facilities in India, the company has built a strong manufacturing ecosystem supported by technology, process innovation and workforce development. Bridgestone began operations in India in 1996 with its first manufacturing plant in Pithampur, Indore, Madhya Pradesh. In 2013, it established its second plant in Chakan, Maharashtra, further strengthening its manufacturing capabilities. The company also inaugurated a Satellite Technology Centre at the Pune plant in 2025 to accelerate technology development across material planning, product research, design and manufacturing.
Today, Bridgestone India’s manufacturing facilities have a combined daily production capacity of 30,000 passenger car radial tyres and 1,800 truck and bus radial tyres.
From automation to intelligent manufacturing
The evolution of manufacturing is being driven by the need for greater agility, productivity and reliability. At Bridgestone India, automation, digitalisation and data-driven decision-making have become key pillars of this journey.
“Over the years, Bridgestone India has continuously enhanced its manufacturing capabilities through strategic capacity expansions, technology advancement, and an unwavering commitment to operational excellence,” said Uday Wagde, Executive Director - Manufacturing Operations, Bridgestone India Private Limited.
The company’s manufacturing approach focuses on building an agile and resilient ecosystem capable of responding to changing customer expectations while maintaining global standards of quality and safety. Investments in advanced manufacturing technologies, smart factory initiatives and workforce capability development are helping create more efficient operations.
Data driving precision and performance
Tyre manufacturing involves multiple complex stages where accuracy and consistency are essential. At Bridgestone India, quality is integrated across the entire production process, from raw material preparation and component building to curing and final inspection.
The company uses advanced process controls, integrated inspection systems and real-time monitoring technologies to enhance precision, reliability and operational efficiency. These systems help maintain manufacturing standards while enabling continuous improvement.
Automation and digital technologies are increasingly transforming plant operations. Through end-to-end automated systems across key manufacturing processes, Bridgestone India is improving production consistency, process reliability and workplace safety.
“Through the integration of end-to-end automated systems across key manufacturing processes, we are enhancing precision, consistency, operational efficiency, and workplace safety,” Wagde explained. Connected manufacturing systems are also enabling faster and more informed decision-making. Real-time monitoring and analytics provide greater visibility into plant performance, while predictive maintenance helps identify potential equipment issues before they impact production.
Sustainability at the core of manufacturing
Smart factories are not only about improving productivity; they are also about creating sustainable operations. Bridgestone India has integrated sustainability into its manufacturing strategy through renewable energy adoption, resource conservation and cleaner production practices.
At its Pune and Indore facilities, the company has implemented renewable energy initiatives, including a 5 MWp solar power facility at Pune and a 1.729 MWp solar plant at Indore. Other measures include battery-operated forklifts, smart induction kitchens, biomass-based steam generation and wastewater recycling.
Through Project Green Goal, Bridgestone India has also developed biodiversity habitats across more than four acres and planted over 7,000 native species, supporting its broader sustainability objectives.
Creating future-ready factories
The next phase of manufacturing will depend on the combination of advanced technology, skilled talent and resilient supply chains. Bridgestone India is focusing on strengthening localisation, improving capabilities and preparing its workforce for a more digital manufacturing environment.
The company continues to invest in workforce upskilling and capability development to enable employees to adapt to technology-driven manufacturing processes.
“By combining advanced technology, skilled talent, and world-class manufacturing practices, Bridgestone India is shaping factories that are agile, sustainable, and prepared to meet the demands of tomorrow,” Wagde added.
As manufacturing moves towards greater intelligence and connectivity, Bridgestone India’s smart factory journey highlights how technology, sustainability and human expertise can come together to create the factories of the future.
Bridgestone India
Uday Wagde
smart factory
Industry 4.0
tyre manufacturing
digital manufacturing
automation
sustainable manufacturing
Ashlin Rajan
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