Bridgestone EMIA

Industry Leaders Advance Autonomous Manufacturing, Robotics, and AI-Driven Supply Chains

Schaeffler AG · Workflow automation · Microsoft + AWS

At Hannover Messe 2025, Accenture and Microsoft demonstrated real-world applications of AI agents in the manufacturing sector. Collaborations highlighted new levels of autonomous manufacturing, combining digital twins, automation, and cloud technologies for improved efficiency and flexibility. Sessions and keynotes explored how connected data, agentic architectures, and skilled workforces drive innovation and resilience across the value chain. Live demonstrations included scenarios such as autonomous supply chain management, 'batch of one' agile manufacturing, humanoid robot collaboration on the factory floor, and AI-powered control towers. Accenture, Schaeffler AG, Bridgestone EMIA, ABB, and VOITH, together with technology leaders like NVIDIA, Google, AWS, Siemens, SAP and Dell Technologies, showcased joint demos focused on real-time analytics, predictive alerts, generative AI, and distributed data orchestration. The event emphasized the transformative impact of Microsoft technologies including Azure AI, Azure OpenAI, Azure Digital Twins, and AI Agents, co-developing autonomous business models and resilient operations. Deep dives into topics such as IT/OT cybersecurity, modular manufacturing, Omnichannel automotive experiences, and satellite-powered 5G were part of the industry’s forward-looking agenda.

Multi-agentProduction

Bridgestone EMIA overhauls ERP and boosts supply chain agility

Bridgestone EMIA · Cloud migration · Microsoft

Bridgestone EMIA, a global leader in tyre manufacturing and mobility solutions, undertook an ambitious modernization of its ERP landscape, migrating to SAP S4/HANA hosted on Microsoft Azure. Led jointly by the CIO and CFO, the initiative aimed to establish a unified digital backbone integrating 42 business entities across 26 countries. Implementation phased from 2019 to early 2024, interrupted but not derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The transformation focused on breaking down data silos, improving master data management, and creating agile, data-centric workflows. Specialist provider Syniti was brought in to streamline and ensure the accuracy of migrated data. TCS supplied a private Azure environment and supported the technical rollout. ERP modernization enabled enhanced cybersecurity, analytics capabilities, adoption of Microsoft PowerApps to democratize technology, and integration with treasury systems. As a result, Bridgestone EMIA achieved a 90% improvement in master data accuracy, accelerated inter-company rebilling, improved reporting and forecasting, and laid the digital foundation for an Industry 4.0 roadmap with plans for virtualization and edge computing. The project also catalyzed organizational change in digital leadership, business partnering, and claim of innovation responsibility by IT across business functions. Ongoing improvements include data governance and new capabilities for cross-company reporting, Capex reporting, and price setting as the organization aspires towards real-time insights and predictive modeling.

Intertape Polymer Group, Schaeffler AG, and Bridgestone EMIA unify manufacturing insights with AI and Fabric

Intertape Polymer Group · Manufacturing quality monitoring · Microsoft

Intertape Polymer Group, Schaeffler AG, and Bridgestone EMIA have accelerated their industrial digital transformation by implementing Microsoft Fabric's manufacturing data solutions, Azure OpenAI Service, and Copilot-powered tools. These leading manufacturers faced challenges around siloed IT and OT data, hindering their ability to extract actionable insights and drive operational improvements. By unifying data across systems with Fabric and deploying conversational copilots for the factory floor, frontline workers are now empowered to use natural language to perform root-cause analysis, access metrics, resolve issues, and enhance productivity. Partners such as Accenture and Avanade supported the integration and implementation, creating repeatable data patterns that enable scalable innovations. The copilots leverage Azure OpenAI Service and robust guardrails to ensure accurate, safe responses within complex manufacturing environments. Early results include improved production performance, democratized information access, faster resolution of manufacturing disruptions, and enhanced decision-making from top management to the shop floor. These use cases, highlighted during Hannover Messe 2024, demonstrate the value of unifying manufacturing data for analytics and AI, democratizing data access, and accelerating operational agility across global production facilities.

Production

Bridgestone EMIA boosts factory efficiency with unified data and AI-driven maintenance

Bridgestone EMIA · Predictive maintenance · Microsoft

Bridgestone EMIA, a global manufacturer of premium tires and rubber products, faced persistent production inefficiencies due to scattered data across factories and difficulty in benchmarking global performance. To address this, the company implemented a unified IT/OT data architecture using Microsoft Fabric, Azure AI, and Microsoft Cloud for Manufacturing. This integration provided near real-time insights and introduced conversational AI agents, enabling factory workers to troubleshoot, resolve, and optimize manufacturing quality metrics swiftly. Avanade, a joint venture between Accenture and Microsoft, partnered to design and deploy the solution, bringing deep domain expertise that helped overcome technical and organizational challenges. The AI-powered platform empowered workers to easily query and map performance data, streamline reporting, and take predictive actions rather than being solely reactive. The new environment reduced the frequency and duration of production downtimes, improved operational efficiency, reduced waste, and enhanced worker engagement. Workers now benefit from a digital approach to troubleshooting and continuous improvement, closing the loop between equipment data and frontline decision-making. This digitization initiative also serves sustainability by optimizing resource usage and waste. Bridgestone plans to expand the solution throughout its operations, with a future-proof, scalable architecture.

AgenticProduction

Bridgestone centralizes data to advance mobility and sustainability

Bridgestone EMIA · Retail analytics platform · Microsoft

Bridgestone EMIA, a global leader in automotive manufacturing, is undergoing a digital transformation aimed at modernizing operations and enhancing sustainability. Central to this initiative is CAPPA, an end-to-end analytics data platform developed in collaboration with Microsoft. CAPPA enables the company to consolidate and analyze vast datasets, driving strategic planning, demand forecasting, supply chain optimization, and ESG reporting. The platform integrates Microsoft Azure Databricks, Azure Purview, and Azure Synapse Analytics to build a unified data lake and comprehensive governance. This digital transformation supports Bridgestone's ambition to evolve from a tire-centric manufacturer to a provider of sustainable mobility solutions, serving operations spanning 40 countries. The project directly impacts multiple areas: manufacturing efficiency, customer satisfaction, road safety, and energy optimization, while supporting Bridgestone's long-term goal to become a sustainable solutions company by 2050. With CAPPA, Bridgestone can anticipate demand, manage inventory, enable predictive maintenance, and contribute to urban mobility projects, including city road monitoring and fleet management. The data platform also allows for robust ESG reporting by providing real-time access to environmental metrics across its manufacturing footprint. Bridgestone's transformation is regarded as a model for large-scale, cross-region digitalization and sustainability initiatives in manufacturing.

Scaled Production