By: Michael Telesforo, BADT student, August 2025 Intake
On January 23, 2026, SOM students visited the Hemaraj Plant of Bosch Automotive Technologies (Thailand) Co., Ltd. for an educational field trip that brought Industry 4.0 from a classroom concept to a real-world experience.
Following a safety briefing, Commercial Plant Vice President Ersin Ozturk introduced the students to Bosch Hemaraj’s growth since production began in December 2017. The plant now employs around 950 associates and manufactures key automotive components such as connectors, fuel injectors, and rotors. The session also featured a presentation on Bosch’s internship program and job opportunities, encouraging students to consider the company as a future workplace for career development.
A key highlight of the visit was the discussion on Bosch Hemaraj’s data-driven manufacturing operations. Company representatives explained how connected machines continuously feed data into a Manufacturing Execution System (MES), supported by automated dashboards and RFID gates for traceability and condition monitoring. These systems significantly enhance productivity and decision-making. On the quality side, AI-powered anomaly detection tools identify deviations early, while machine learning applications, such as injector flow-rate setting and optimization, replace trial-and-error methods with predictive models that reduce scrap costs and improve efficiency. Bosch emphasized its vision of becoming a fully data-driven manufacturing organization, enabled by advanced IT systems and benchmark processes, while keeping people at the center of transformation.
During the plant tour, engineers demonstrated how Digital Twins and real-time data analytics reduce routine recording tasks and support faster, clearer decisions. They also showed how the plant has shifted from manual Excel logs to MES shiftbooks and analytics tools such as Power BI and Tableau.
The visit to Bosch Hemaraj Plant showed that Industry 4.0 is not just about advanced technologies, but also about how data, systems, and people work together to create smarter, more efficient operations. More importantly, the experience reinforced a key lesson: digital transformation succeeds when technology is paired with skilled people and a clear purpose, turning innovation from theory into everyday practice.
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