Electrolux cuts energy use and boosts quality with data

From gut feeling to measurable gains

Electrolux wanted to shift away from gut-driven decisions on the production floor. While experience still played a role, they needed a way to support it with hard data. By focusing on specific areas with high energy use and limited visibility, they uncovered clear opportunities to improve performance and reduce costs—without overhauling their entire process.

As Klaas Dobbelaere, IIoT & Equipment Connectivity Director, explains: “Getting quick wins was a goal in itself. It proved to everyone that this works.”

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Reducing emissions by timing furnace start-up

One of the biggest opportunities was in their industrial ovens—each the size of a shipping container and heated to 800°C. These furnaces are powered by gas and represent a major part of the site’s emissions.

Previously, they followed a fixed start-up schedule. Now, an algorithm calculates the right moment to power up based on real-world conditions. Operators receive precise instructions that adjust automatically to the pace of production and temperature needs.

The result: lower energy costs and a smaller environmental footprint, simply by changing when the ovens turn on.

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Making machine behaviour visible

Another improvement focused on screwing machines used during assembly. These tools record data like torque and speed, but none of it was visible to the operators or quality team.

That changed with the introduction of a dashboard that tracks and displays this data in real time. Electrolux can now verify whether every screw is applied correctly—turning a blind spot into a quality checkpoint.

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Always improving, one step at a time

Electrolux continues to develop new use cases in parallel. Each is grounded in a clear business goal: cut waste, increase consistency, and improve decisions using real data.

They’re also exploring ways to improve the working environment itself. Projects underway include monitoring workplace heat levels with sensors and building an app to support better posture during shifts. Because a better process means little if people aren’t supported along the way.

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