VitrA Tiles, a division of the Eczacıbaşı Group from Türkiye, has been acclaimed as a Factory Lighthouse within the Global Lighthouse Network (GLN), an initiative by the World Economic Forum. This recognition celebrates VitrA Tiles as a leader in the adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies in manufacturing.
During the awards ceremony at the Davos Summit on January 15, 2024, Eczacıbaşı Group CEO Atalay Gümrah and VitrA Tiles CEO Hasan Pehlivan spoke about their journey in integrating 4IR technologies. Their acceptance speeches emphasised the enhanced performance and resilience the company has achieved in the face of market challenges.
This accolade is particularly noteworthy as VitrA Tiles is the first company in the ceramic tile sector to be recognised by the World Economic Forum for its use of 4IR technologies.
Atalay Gümrah expressed his delight, 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 digital transformation has led to impressive gains, including a 19% increase in Overall Equipment Effectiveness, a 56% decrease in scrap, a 14% decrease in energy consumption, and a 43% increase in the use of recycled content.
Hasan Pehlivan, CEO of VitrA Tiles, remarked on the importance of global collaboration, “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.”
The adoption of AI and machine learning by GLN members is revolutionising global production, with 85% of Lighthouse factories reporting less than a 10% revenue loss during the COVID-19 pandemic peak, a resilience unmatched by most other manufacturers.
