Manufacturing has always been about precision, efficiency, and scale. Yet, as industries confront rising complexity, it has become clear that traditional automation alone is not enough. At Gestamp Automotive India, our vision has been to move beyond automation to intelligent systems; factories that predict, adapt, and self-correct in real time.

\Technology can automate processes, but it’s people who give intelligence purpose. Our role is to bridge both.\

This journey took shape across six greenfield plants we built from the ground up, with a seventh now underway in Gujarat.By embedding machine intelligence-powered IoT platforms into our core infrastructure, we enabled predictive maintenance, energy optimisation, and real-time production monitoring. The impact has been profound: improved uptime, reduced costs, and higher resilience in a highly competitive sector. These outcomes reflect more than technology; they represent a shift towards manufacturing intelligence as the foundation of growth.

Our contribution to India’s AI journey lies in showing what is possible when Industry 4.0 principles are applied at scale. Smart factories are not abstract visions; they are operational realities where data-driven insights shape decisions, processes optimize themselves, and teams are empowered to act with foresight. By integrating intelligence into infrastructure, we have helped create production systems that are not only more efficient but also safer, more sustainable, and better prepared for future demands.

The road ahead points to even greater transformation. We see autonomous operations and digital twins as the next leap forward, systems capable of simulating, optimising, and executing decisions with minimal intervention, while giving leaders unprecedented visibility into operations. For India’s manufacturing sector, these capabilities will be a game-changer, unlocking both global competitiveness and sustainable growth.

Of course, progress must remain responsible. At Gestamp India, every deployment is guided by transparency, fairness, and accountability. Cross-functional collaboration ensures systems are inclusive in design, while audits and governance frameworks reinforce trust. For us, eliminating bias and embedding fairness is not a technical checkbox; it is a leadership responsibility.

Future readiness will also depend on people. We are committed to equipping teams with the skills and mindset to thrive in intelligent factories, technical acumen, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and a focus on value creation rather than task execution

The Journey Into Industry

Shrenik Kothari is an accomplished IT leader with over 22 years of experience in the manufacturing and automotive sectors. As Regional IT Infrastructure Head at Gestamp India, he oversees infrastructure strategy and execution across India, while also supporting in Japan. His expertise spans SD-WAN, Industry 4.0, Smart Factory, IoT, cybersecurity, and IT project management. Shrenik has successfully led six greenfield plant setups, building IT infrastructure from scratch to full operational readiness. He holds certifications in Efficient Time Management,IT Project & Program Management, SD-WAN, and Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Administration, He has been recognised with several awards, including the World CIO 200 – Legend Category (2023–2025), NEXT100 Future CIO 2024, and the Automation Hero Award 2024. He is also an Associate Member of the National Cyber Security Standards.