Sharad Kumar Agarwal, Chief Digital & Information Officer, Digital and IT Solutions, JK Tyre & Industries, is leveraging technology across various functions, including agile manufacturing, insight-driven marketing and sales.
JK Tyre has 11 manufacturing facilities (nine in India and two in Mexico), with an annual manufacturing capacity of 35 million tyres. One of the top five tyre companies in the world, JK Tyre has a presence in over 100 countries.
Anshuman Singhania, Managing Director, JK Tyre and Industries says in the company filing for FY25, “Digital transformation and AI-driven processes are at the heart of our growth strategy. We are leveraging these initiatives across various functions, including agile manufacturing, insight-driven marketing and sales, as well as enhanced agility in supply chain and HR functions. Cyber security has acquired prime importance.”
Simulate processes
As a result of the massive digital drive, the shop floor head is able to monitor manufacturing processes in real time, and apart from other benefits, resource efficiency has improved.
Sharad Kumar Agarwal, Chief Digital & Information Officer, Digital and IT Solutions, JK Tyre & Industries says, “At JK Tyre, digital transformation isn’t just a buzzword, it’s a key enabler of how we operate, make decisions, and serve our customers better.”
“In our manufacturing operations, we’ve embraced connected factory technologies, allowing us to monitor and manage production in real time. By using virtual twins, we can simulate processes before they happen, helping us improve efficiency and reduce errors. AI-powered production scheduling ensures that we make the best use of our resources while staying agile to meet changing demand. These interventions have helped us cut downtime, improve quality, and run smarter, more responsive factories,” he says.
According to the annual report for FY25, these operational improvements have already converted into considerable benefits on the raw material cost mitigation side, “The company has been able to mitigate material cost increases by 40 percent through operational improvements and strategic pricing,” it’s important to note that, “Since over 60% of the tyre cost is raw material, any increase directly impacts the bottom line as well as affects consumer sentiment,” says the report.
Some of the key digital transformation initiatives currently in progress or completed at JK Tyre include:
Manufacturing excellence
JK Tyre is significantly boosting its manufacturing excellence through various digital initiatives. Predictive maintenance, which uses sensors for machine condition analysis, is enhancing equipment availability. Additionally, total control checks generate 11 million monthly data points via an app for daily digital equipment monitoring. The company also deploys data analytics tools to improve machine cycle times by thoroughly analyzing operational data.
For efficient energy management, JK Tyre utilizes sensors and cloud computing for precise energy tracking. Lastly, IoT integration connects SCADA/PLC systems, enabling comprehensive data capture and real-time monitoring of manufacturing processes.
Specifically on the product side, JK Tyre has already reaped benefits from the ongoing digital programmes. “The modernisation of our manufacturing processes, particularly for passenger car radial tyres, has significantly bolstered our ability to compete in niche market segments. Digital technologies such as machine learning, IIoT, and QR-code based tyre genealogy have been integrated into our processes, optimising productivity and product quality. By adopting Total Quality Management (TQM) practices, we have improved first-time quality, reduced scrap, and enhanced overall process efficiency,” says the report.
Future plans
JK Tyre's forward-looking digital R&D plan outlines several key areas to drive significant impact and ensure future readiness. The company plans to digitize manufacturing processes, leveraging AI for product marking and condition-based maintenance. A core priority will be enhancing productivity and cost efficiency across operations. JK Tyre intends to deploy cloud-based equipment dashboards to improve overall operations, with a particular focus on passenger car radial tires.
To compete effectively in niche markets, the company will be adopting advanced digital technologies like Machine Learning (ML) and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Furthermore, R&D efforts are designed to meet evolving customer demands for low rolling resistance, reduced noise, and improved tire durability. Ultimately, these initiatives are planned to ensure JK Tyre's readiness for future challenges, driving performance, building stronger relationships, and shaping a more resilient organization.
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