VitrA Tiles, a division of the Eczacıbaşı Group, has been inducted into the World Economic Forum’s Global Lighthouse Network (GLN), recognised as a Factory Lighthouse. This induction acknowledges VitrA’s pioneering role in adopting 4IR technologies in manufacturing, alongside 21 other new members.
At the Davos Summit awards ceremony on January 15, 2024, Atalay Gümrah, CEO of Eczacıbaşı Group, and Hasan Pehlivan, CEO of VitrA Tiles, gave acceptance speeches. They discussed how the integration of 4IR technologies has significantly improved their manufacturing processes, aiding them in navigating market volatility and achieving widespread success.
VitrA Tiles’ inclusion in the GLN is a landmark achievement, marking it as the first ceramic tile company to be recognised by the World Economic Forum for its innovative application of 4IR technologies.
Atalay Gümrah expressed his enthusiasm, 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.”
VitrA Tiles’ Bozüyük site has achieved significant improvements through its digital transformation efforts, 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.
Hasan Pehlivan, CEO of VitrA Tiles, highlighted the global nature of manufacturing challenges, “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, utilising AI and machine learning, are leading a global revolution in production. Notably, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, 85% of Lighthouse factories reported less than a 10% revenue loss, a resilience that only 14% of other manufacturers managed to achieve.
