VitrA Tiles, a division of Türkiye’s Eczacıbaşı Group, has been inducted into the prestigious Global Lighthouse Network (GLN), a World Economic Forum initiative. This induction recognises VitrA as a Factory Lighthouse, alongside 21 innovative members leading in manufacturing innovation.
During the Davos Summit on January 15, 2024, Atalay Gümrah, CEO of Eczacıbaşı Group, and Hasan Pehlivan, CEO of VitrA Tiles, shared insights into their implementation of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies. Their speeches highlighted how these advancements have enhanced performance and enabled them to successfully navigate challenging market conditions.
VitrA Tiles has the distinction of being the first ceramic tile company to receive recognition from the World Economic Forum for its innovative application of 4IR technologies.
Atalay Gümrah expressed his excitement about 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.”
The digital transformation roadmap at VitrA Tiles’ Bozüyük site has led to impressive results, including a 19% increase in Overall Equipment Effectiveness, a 56% reduction in scrap, a 14% reduction in energy consumption, and a 43% increase in recycled content usage over the past year.
Hasan Pehlivan remarked, “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.”
GLN members, leveraging AI and machine learning, are revolutionising production and achieving significant impacts in various advanced AI applications. During the COVID-19 pandemic peak, 85% of Lighthouse factories reported less than a 10% revenue loss, a resilience not matched by 86% of other manufacturers.
