ZF’s Fernando Bera on prioritising real-time data and people-centric strategies for smart factory success

We spoke with Fernando Bera, Engineering Supervisor and Smart Factory Coordinator at ZF, at the Automotive Evolution NA conference 2024. Bera shared ZF’s approach to building a smart factory, highlighting the central role of real-time data in driving efficiency and quality improvements.

“Our goal is no paper, no wasted time—only direct machine data driving our process improvement,” Bera explained, underscoring ZF’s focus on data-driven decision-making. He shared how ZF prioritises high-impact data projects that align with strategic objectives, which helps the company navigate challenges posed by legacy systems and vast amounts of data.

A key theme of Bera’s discussion was the value of a people-centered approach in digital transformation. He noted that curiosity and initiative, especially among young team members, have become essential in quickly adapting and solving shop floor issues. ZF’s real-time dashboards now enable teams to proactively identify and address potential quality issues, ensuring that data-driven insights lead to tangible improvements.

Key takeaways from the discussion:

• ZF prioritises real-time data to drive operational efficiency and reduce waste.
• Bera emphasised the role of young talent and curiosity in ZF’s smart factory roadmap.
• Strategic prioritisation helps ZF address high-impact areas, even with legacy systems.
• Real-time dashboards support proactive quality management, reducing defects.