The Global Lighthouse Network, an initiative launched by the World Economic Forum (WEF) to promote the integration of fourth industrial revolution technologies within production networks, has effectively steered 15 manufacturing sites in India towards adopting state-of-the-art global technologies.
Kiva Allgood, head of the WEF’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chain, revealed the accomplishment, stating that these Indian sites, including prominent names like ReNew Energy and Unilever, have joined the league of 153 global lighthouses leading the charge in Industry 4.0 adoption.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution, characterized by enhanced automation, advanced production processes, and the integration of disruptive technologies, revolves around pillars such as connectivity, data, computation power, and analytics. Allgood emphasized that the 153 lighthouse locations across 17 sectors have showcased remarkable performance improvements across various parameters.
"After the adoption of new technologies and systems, the 153 Lighthouse locations have reported a 23% reduction in operating costs on average, with some instances reaching up to 70%," stated Allgood, who also serves on the WEF executive committee.
The incorporation of robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, big data, and the Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized manufacturing processes.
The utilization of standalone renewable energy systems has further propelled sustainability efforts, with 13 lighthouse locations achieving net-zero emissions.
The transformative impact of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies extends beyond efficiency gains, with a 25% improvement in energy efficiency and a staggering 98% reduction in design iteration time.
As countries worldwide endeavor to meet net-zero commitments, the success in achieving sustainability goals through these technologies holds immense significance. Allgood highlighted that as more nations consider imposing carbon taxes, the adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies can aid in mitigating emissions and enhancing environmental stewardship.
Looking ahead, the Global Lighthouse Network continues to invite applications from manufacturing locations worldwide, aiming to extend its support to 100 applications from India alone.
With approximately 10 million manufacturing locations globally, the program seeks to catalyze widespread adoption of Industry 4.0 principles.
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