CEAT and HUL facilities inducted into the World Economic Forum's Global Lighthouse Network

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Posted by NewAdmin on 2025-01-16 12:51:50 |

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CEAT and HUL Facilities Join WEF's Global Lighthouse Network for Manufacturing Excellence

NEW DELHI: Two India-based facilities, tyre manufacturer CEAT and FMCG giant Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL), have been inducted into the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Global Lighthouse Network for their innovative advancements in manufacturing.

The WEF announced 17 new members on Tuesday, expanding the network to a total of 189 industry leaders globally. These leaders are at the forefront of utilizing cutting-edge Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies in manufacturing.

New additions to the network include facilities from countries such as the United Arab Emirates, China, Germany, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Morocco, which now hosts Africa’s first Lighthouse site.

The latest members have reported notable improvements, including a 53% average increase in labor productivity and a 26% reduction in conversion costs through the adoption of advanced digital tools like AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics, according to the WEF.

CEAT Sriperumbudur Facility
To support its global expansion, CEAT's Sriperumbudur facility faced the challenge of managing three times more stock-keeping units (SKUs), faster order fulfillment, and double the pace of new product launches while enhancing productivity in the assembly process.

The facility implemented over 30 digital solutions, such as operational research models to reduce turnaround time, advanced analytics for predictive control, and machine learning-based design optimization.

These initiatives resulted in a 25% increase in labor productivity, a 54% reduction in dispatch turnaround time, a 30% acceleration in product ramp-up, and a 47% decrease in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, the WEF highlighted.

HUL Tinsukia Facility
HUL’s Tinsukia facility, located in a remote area, adapted to the rise of instant e-commerce delivery demands with shorter production runs and a broader product variety. It implemented over 50 digital use cases, improving supply chain agility with machine learning-driven planning, AI-enabled changeovers, and a green digital twin.

These measures reduced planning frozen periods from 14 days to just one, enabling a threefold increase in unique SKUs and cutting sustainable packaging trial times by 84%.

In addition to its digital transformation, the facility contributed to local community development by fostering digital skills through an Industrial Training Institute and a digital Braille lab, enhancing its social impact.

About the Global Lighthouse Network
Established in 2018, the Global Lighthouse Network recognizes industrial sites that demonstrate exceptional achievements in productivity, supply chain resilience, customer centricity, sustainability, and talent development.

This global community, spanning over 30 countries and 35 sectors, has implemented more than 1,000 digital solutions. Among its 189 sites, 25 are designated as Sustainability Lighthouses.

Co-founded by WEF and McKinsey & Company, the initiative is guided by an advisory board of industry leaders working to shape the future of global manufacturing.

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