Eczacıbaşı Group’s VitrA Tiles has been commended for its exemplary use of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies, securing a notable position as the first ceramics producer in the World Economic Forum’s Global Lighthouse Network. This recognition exemplifies VitrA’s commitment to 4IR advancements.
Türkiye’s Eczacıbaşı Group’s VitrA Tiles division joins the esteemed Global Lighthouse Network (GLN), recognised as a Factory Lighthouse amongst 21 recent inductees. This induction by the World Economic Forum’s initiative marks a significant achievement in the field of manufacturing innovation.
At the Davos Summit on January 15, 2024, Eczacıbaşı Group CEO Atalay Gümrah and VitrA Tiles CEO Hasan Pehlivan delivered speeches at the awards ceremony, focusing on the integration of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies into their operational strategies.
VitrA Tiles stands out as the first enterprise in the ceramic tile industry to be recognised by the World Economic Forum for its effective use of 4IR technologies, marking a pivotal industry development.
Embracing Innovation and Growth Amid Challenges
Expressing pride in this accomplishment, Atalay Gümrah, CEO of Eczacıbaşı Holding, stated, “We are thrilled that our Bozüyük Production Facility has been selected as one of GLN’s Factory Lighthouses, in recognition of the leadership we have shown in deploying Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies. Faced with manufacturing disruptions due to climate change, economic instability, and geopolitical crises impacting energy prices in Türkiye, this accolade underscores our strategy to use these challenges as springboards for innovation and growth, employing 4IR to enhance our operational competitiveness.”
GLN represents a group of manufacturing frontrunners who have innovatively utilised 4IR technologies to revolutionise their factories, value chains, and business models, achieving considerable financial and operational improvements. Factory Lighthouses illustrate the successful application of manufacturing innovations in boosting performance and navigating through market fluctuations.
Digital Transformation Achieving Remarkable Results
VitrA Tiles’ Bozüyük facility, by focusing on intelligent process and production controls in its digital transformation efforts, achieved a 19% increase in Overall Equipment Effectiveness, a 56% reduction in scrap, a 14% decrease in energy consumption, and a 43% rise in the use of recycled content over the past year.
On this achievement, Hasan Pehlivan, CEO of VitrA Tiles, commented, “While our solutions might be unique, the challenges we face are global, and we recognize the necessity of a global community in addressing these challenges. The future of manufacturing depends on uniting the global community to overcome major challenges. I am confident about the GLN’s significant role in this journey, and I am thrilled about this latest initiative from the World Economic Forum.”
Global Manufacturing Revolutionised by AI and Machine Learning
In the context of rapid technological progress, escalating geopolitical tensions, and intensifying climate challenges, Global Lighthouse Network members are adopting innovative technologies to enhance productivity and sustainability. Utilising Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning, these Lighthouse factories are at the forefront of a manufacturing revolution on a global scale. Impressively, 85% of Lighthouse factories reported less than a 10% revenue loss during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, a level of resilience outperforming most other manufacturers.
These Lighthouse factories are leading the global manufacturing sector, integrating innovative solutions into their networks, charting a path towards a sustainable future, and heralding a new era of transformative, enduring change. This strategic focus on innovation is transforming the manufacturing landscape, emphasizing the critical impact of advanced technology in addressing the global challenges of our times.
