BEYOND THE TREAD

Inside Yokohama-ATG's Vizag plant, OHT tire making evolves with tech, quality control, and skilled workers.

- Sujatha Vishnuraj

Plant visits are part of my job, but sometimes predictable routine. Every plant visit teaches me something new. Yet, Yokohama-ATG's Vizag facility was different. The genuine warm welcome, the thoughtful planning evident in every detail, this wasn't just a tour. The usual sterility of a factory floor was absent at the Vizag plant. I felt a palpable sense of pride and dedication from the team.

Before heading to Vizag, I met Anil Gupta, Yokohama's COO for the Off-Highway Division, at their Vikhroli office. His engaging conversation about digital transformation in manufacturing was far more insightful than any formal interview could have been. Anil's passion and insights were so captivating that my prepared questions almost seemed irrelevant. (Though I did ask them, of course you can read the interview in the following pages.) His enthusiasm was infectious, and it became clear that this forward-thinking approach permeated the entire organization, a fact confirmed by my visit to the Vizag plant. It became clear that his forward-thinking approach wasn't just a top-down initiative; it was woven into the fabric of the company, evident in every aspect of the Vizag facility.