Case Study: Reckitt achieves scalable factory digital transformation with IBM Consulting

Scalable IT architecture backbone supports digital transformation

Reckitt, the global consumer goods company behind brands like Dettol and Durex, faced a major Industry 4.0 challenge: its factories were running on siloed, locally managed systems with inconsistent data, limited connectivity, and too much manual reporting. To build a scalable “Factory of the Future,” Reckitt worked with IBM Consulting and IBM Garage, using a cloud and IoT-based approach on Microsoft Azure to create a unified digital foundation.

IBM designed and implemented a reusable data backbone and enterprise architecture that connected factory sensors to the cloud and SAP systems, enabling automated OEE tracking, condition-based maintenance, and energy monitoring. At Reckitt’s Nottingham plant, the solution became operational in May 2021 and was projected to cut maintenance costs by 10% and electricity consumption by 3%, while improving visibility, accuracy, and productivity across the business.

Reckitt

Ben Ellins

IT Director for Manufacturing