The Eczacıbaşı Group’s VitrA Tiles has been honoured with a place in the Global Lighthouse Network (GLN) by the World Economic Forum. This recognition places VitrA Tiles as a Factory Lighthouse, joining 21 other new members in this distinguished initiative for leaders in manufacturing innovation.
At the Davos Summit awards ceremony on January 15, 2024, Eczacıbaşı Group CEO Atalay Gümrah and VitrA Tiles CEO Hasan Pehlivan delivered speeches. They highlighted the transformative impact of 4IR technologies in their production processes and how these advancements have driven success in challenging market environments.
VitrA Tiles’ recognition as the first ceramic tile company in the Global Lighthouse Network marks a significant milestone in the industry.
Atalay Gümrah expressed his pride in this achievement, stating, “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. Facing disruptions in manufacturing from climate change, a volatile financial landscape, and geopolitical crises that have led to fluctuating energy prices, particularly in Türkiye, this recognition underscores how we looked at these challenges not as setbacks, but as catalysts for further innovation and growth, harnessing 4IR to enhance our operational competitiveness.”
At the Bozüyük site of VitrA Tiles, the implementation of a digital transformation roadmap focusing on intelligent process and production controls has yielded
remarkable results: a 19% increase in Overall Equipment Effectiveness, a 56% decrease in scrap, a 14% decrease in energy consumption, and a 43% increase in recycled content usage in the last year.
Hasan Pehlivan, CEO of VitrA Tiles, commented on the global challenges and the role of the GLN, “While our solutions might be unique, the challenges we face are global and we recognise the value of a global community in solving global challenges. The future of manufacturing is not about just one company, or one sector, or a single country, but about bringing the global community together to address major challenges. I believe the GLN has much to contribute to this journey, and I welcome this excellent latest initiative from the World Economic Forum.”
Members of the GLN, by adopting AI and machine learning, are at the forefront of revolutionising production globally. During the COVID-19 pandemic, an impressive 85% of Lighthouse factories experienced less than a 10% revenue loss, showcasing their resilience compared to the majority of other manufacturers.
