Continental‘s Bangalore Plant clinched the ACMA Excellence Award 2023, securing Bronze trophies for both “Excellence in Manufacturing” and “Excellence in Digitalization.” The 58th edition of the ACMA Excellence Awards & 9th Technology Summit recognized the steadfast commitment and innovation of Indian auto component producers.
The facility holds ISO 50001:2018 certification for its Energy Management System. In the previous year, the Bangalore Plant secured a gold certification for Green Plant Labeling. Following the Regensburg plant in Germany, it became the second location within Continental to achieve such a distinction among its 58 automotive plants globally.
The company has previously been honored at the 4th VDMA Manufacturing Excellence Awards 2021, receiving an award in the ‘Energy Efficiency and Conservation’ category. This recognition is bestowed by the German Engineering Federation, VDMA, to members who have implemented sustainable manufacturing processes, providing a platform to exchange best practices for environmental improvement.
These awards stand as a testament to Continental’s efforts in digitization, sustainability, and commitment towards localizing manufacturing. Among 344 nominations, ACMA honored 59 renowned auto component makers, who collectively earned 112 prizes across categories. This recognition acknowledges Continental’s years of dedication to manufacturing and digitalization, furthering the company’s future-focused strategy, “Ready for the Future.”
Prashanth Doreswamy, President and CEO of Continental India, expressed his delight, stating, “This award testifies Continental India’s efforts towards localization and digitalization. We follow an ‘in the market, for the market’ approach, localizing the entire value chain to meet customer needs. The award not only recognizes our commitment to localization but also the dedication and innovation of our Bangalore Plant team.”
He added, “Our Bangalore Plant is the largest electronics manufacturing plant in India and plays a pivotal role in our growth strategy and digitization efforts. We continue to invest in the country to enhance the localization of safety and connected car technologies. Continental is ‘Ready for the Future,’ and this honor strengthens our resolve to advance our localization efforts and contribute to the automotive industry’s growth and sustainability.”
Phanindra Karody, the Bengaluru Plant Head at Continental Automotive India, expressed gratitude for the recognition, emphasizing pride in the achievement. He highlighted the recognition as a testament to Continental’s steadfast dedication to innovation and continual enhancement. Karody noted that these accomplishments reaffirm Continental’s leadership in leveraging advanced technologies to enhance efficiency and quality in operations. He credited the dedicated team for their hard work and dedication, which contributed to the success.
Continental has embraced digitization and automation across various processes to create a sustainable manufacturing ecosystem. The Bangalore Plant exemplifies a smart factory and is Continental’s largest electronics manufacturing facility in India. It seamlessly integrates cutting-edge technologies such as collaborative robots (Cobots), Augmented Reality (AR), Artificial Intelligence (AI) for face recognition, automated replenishment systems, automated optical inspection, and Big Data applications into its shop floor.
These innovations enhance operational efficiency, maintain quality standards, ensure precision and consistency, and promote transparency throughout the manufacturing process. Karody emphasized the plant’s adherence to Industry 4.0 practices, ensuring smart manufacturing and data-driven operational management. He highlighted the Bangalore Plant’s role as a model for Continental’s commitment to localized manufacturing.
The award, according to Karody, celebrates the plant’s efforts and reinforces Continental’s dedication to setting industry standards for excellence. Over the years, the Bangalore Plant has implemented various measures to enhance energy efficiency. The installation of solar panels and a 5MW solar plant ensures that over 93 percent of the plant’s energy is sourced from renewable sources. Moreover, the energy-efficient chiller facility has reduced energy consumption by 5.6 percent, annually saving up to 5,400,000 units.
