Recently, the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology announced the list of pilot enterprises for Future Factories in 2023, and Wanxiang Precision Engineering was among them.

Since the concept of “Future Factories” was proposed and developed in 2020, the connotation of Zhejiang’s Future Factories has continued to evolve. In 2022, the Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology, in conjunction with the “Guidelines for Building Future Factories,” explicitly defined them as “modern, new-type industrial organizational units”—deeply integrating next-generation information technology with advanced manufacturing technologies, using data to drive transformations in production methods and corporate structures, and continuously promoting the intelligent, green, lean, people-oriented, and high-end upgrading of production and operations, thereby leading innovation in business models and the development of emerging industries and business forms.

Since 1997, Wanxiang Precision has been developing automotive wheel hub bearing units. In 2021, it was recognized as a “Single-Item Champion” enterprise in the manufacturing sector and has now attained an internationally leading position in the production of automotive wheel hub bearing units, becoming a strategic partner supplier to major international automakers.

Adhere to technology-driven market leadership. Focusing on the requirements of lightweight design, low friction, long service life, and high performance, Wanxiang Jinggong is committed to building a domestically leading wheel hub unit technology system. The company has developed technological capabilities that are on par with those of renowned overseas bearing manufacturers. As a participant in drafting national and industry standards and a benchmark enterprise, Wanxiang Jinggong has secured a dominant position in both domestic and international high-end wheel hub bearing unit markets.

Continuously optimize manufacturing processes. Wanxiang Jinggong utilizes a PLM system to convert process knowledge and build a process knowledge base. The machining and assembly workshops have implemented systems such as MES, SRM, WMS, and ERP, and through secondary development, have achieved interface synchronization and data integration. By deploying industrial robots, the company has realized a high degree of automation and intelligence in the production process. Meanwhile, by adopting the MES system, the entire production process is fully traceable, enabling interconnection among machines, between machines and objects, and between humans and machines.

We are continuously upgrading our intelligent equipment and leveraging digital tools to empower production. Wanxiang Precision has actively promoted infrastructure development, establishing a fully automated, lean, one-flow production line for wheel hub units—from component machining to final assembly—equipped with online inspection and error-proofing capabilities. By introducing high-precision, cutting-edge equipment, robots, and gantry robots, as well as configuring automatic online inspection systems and an online manufacturing monitoring system (MES), we have significantly enhanced both product manufacturing efficiency and quality stability. For example, in the second production division of wheel hub units, three intelligent production lines have been set up, where all processes have been fully智能化. This has added an annual capacity of 2.6 million sets of automotive wheel hub bearing units, reduced staffing by approximately 150 employees, and doubled production efficiency.

Building on this foundation, Wanxiang Precision Engineering envisions becoming a global leader in the industry through "global manufacturing, global markets, and pioneering leadership." Guided by the principles of "lean management, digital and intelligent manufacturing, a core team, and high-end markets," the company continuously enhances its capabilities in digital design and management, as well as intelligent production. It is committed to building a "future factory" that features comprehensive sensing, ubiquitous connectivity, deep integration, data-driven operations, and intelligent leadership—ultimately establishing itself as a model leading enterprise in the automotive components industry.

The construction of Wanxiang Jinggong’s “Future Factory” will be underpinned by advanced manufacturing technologies, automation technologies, and the next-generation information technologies represented by “5G + Industrial Internet + AIBCDE.” It will focus on reconfiguring and digitizing the company’s value chain, supply chain, and industrial chain, building core digital competencies, continuously optimizing business processes, developing digital capabilities across all business functions, and establishing a data-driven, intelligent operational management system to achieve the company’s digital transformation. The key areas of focus include high-end product development, digital design, intelligent production, lean management, and green manufacturing. Upon completion, this initiative will play a significant role in enhancing organizational efficiency, accelerating flexible transformation, improving product quality, and leveraging supply chain synergies—thereby greatly boosting the company’s core competitiveness. Moreover, it will strongly facilitate the resolution of industry pain points, set industry benchmarks, and drive the optimization and upgrading of industrial structures.