The latest list of “lighthouse factories”was announced in the recently-held World Economic Forum (WEF). 23 new manufacturers from across the world have joined the Global Lighthouse Network, 16 of which are based in China. The factories of Hisense Visual Technology Co., Ltd. and Haier Strauss Water Co., Ltd., two new Qingdao-based entrants, are the first lighthouse factories in the global television industry and the worldwide water purification sector, respectively. Qingdao is so far home to eight lighthouse factories, ranking second in China.

The Global Lighthouse Network was co-launched by the World Economic Forum and McKinsey & Company, whose entrants represent the most sophisticated level in global intelligent manufacturing. The latest joiners fall into these manufacturers that deliver exceptional impact across customer centricity, productivity, supply chain resilience, sustainability and talent. They epitomize the efforts to use advanced technologies, particularly AI technology, to enhance productivity, improve supply chain resilience, promote sustainability, step up talent cultivation and ameliorate “customer centrality” on a large scale.

The factories of Hisense Visual Technology Co., Ltd. and Haier Strauss Water Co., Ltd. have joined the Global Lighthouse Network in terms of customer centrality and efficiency, respectively. (Sun Xin)

The interior of Hisense Visual Technology’s factory in Qingdao.