Rockwell Automation, an industrial automation and digital transformation specialist, has announced that it has been selected by Sumitomo Rubber Industries to support its digital transformation efforts across its plants around the world.
Sumitomo Rubber is known for brands such as Dunlop and Falken. It will deploy Rockwell’s FactoryTalk ProductionCentre, a manufacturing execution system (MES) platform, as part of its strategy to integrate and standardize business and production data. It will be first deployed at the company’s Shirakawa plant in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, and later to other plants after evaluation.
Sumitomo is addressing business challenges, including cost increase and labor shortages, by implementing efficient production systems. The company aims to standardize production across its global sites, which handle high-mix, low-volume production. To enhance integration with its enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, Sumitomo Rubber chose Rockwell’s FactoryTalk ProductionCentre for its compatibility with existing systems and its specialized knowledge in tire manufacturing.
“We believe leveraging Rockwell Automation’s expertise will enable us to standardize manufacturing management and enhance operational efficiency globally, driving our growth,” said Kenji Saito, executive officer and general manager of the tire manufacturing headquarters at Sumitomo Rubber Industries.
“We are pleased to support Sumitomo Rubber by integrating our tire MES solution, FactoryTalk ProductionCentre, into their existing systems,” said James Glasson, vice president, global industry auto, tire and advanced mobility. “This initiative will enhance operating efficiency, minimize manufacturing risks, reduce implementation costs and significantly accelerate speed to market.”
Sumitomo Rubber aims to strengthen its organizational structure through this digital initiative in 2025. From 2026 onward, the company plans to expand its digital transformation practices to adapt to an evolving business environment.
