The World Economic Forum (WEF) has announced its “Global Lighthouse Network” list, which identifies facilities that play a leading role in Industry 4.0 and best implement digital transformation. Arçelik Eskişehir Refrigerator Factory, one of Türkiye's sources of pride, has been included in this prestigious list, taking its place among the world's most advanced production centers.
Koç Group has once again demonstrated its commitment to digital transformation on the international stage. Following the selection of Arçelik Washing Machine Factory in Ulmi, Romania, and Ford Otosan's Kocaeli Factory as "Global Lighthouses" in 2018, a third factory within the group has been awarded this prestigious title.
“Elite” Facilities Selected from Over a Thousand Applications
Launched in 2018 by the World Economic Forum (WEF), the Global Lighthouse Network program honors facilities that have most successfully implemented the fourth industrial revolution in manufacturing. This year, over 1,000 applications from around the world underwent rigorous review by the WEF. As a result of these evaluations, only 90 factories worldwide have been accepted into this exclusive network, and Arçelik Eskişehir Refrigerator Factory has successfully secured its place.
This achievement has confirmed that the factory is one of the hubs of technology and innovation not only in Türkiye but also on a global scale.
Levent Çakıroğlu: “Digital Transformation is the Foundation of Our Cultural Transformation”
Koç Holding CEO Levent Çakıroğlu made strategic assessments regarding this great achievement. Çakıroğlu summarized the Koç Group's global vision with the following words:
“As I emphasize at every opportunity, as the Koç Group, we manage our operations with a global vision. Our focus is always on increasing our competitiveness and taking our technology and innovation capabilities to the highest level. We see digital transformation not just as a technology investment, but as one of the most fundamental elements of our cultural transformation program.”
A Success Story Spanning from 1975 to the Present
Levent Çakıroğlu also drew attention to the history and current status of the award-winning facility. The Eskişehir factory, which started production in 1975, has reached a point where it is a leader in the large-capacity refrigerator category today. Europe's largest production facility Emphasizing that he was in a certain position, Çakıroğlu continued his speech as follows:
“Our factory more than deserved this global title with its bold investments in digitalization, artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotic systems, and sensor technologies, as well as other exemplary applications it has implemented. It is a great source of pride for us that our Arçelik Eskişehir Refrigerator Factory is now among the world's leading production facilities in the field of Industry 4.0. I sincerely thank all my colleagues who contributed to this significant achievement.”
Çakıroğlu will also be sharing the details of this journey to success with the world at an event to be held on Wednesday, September 29th. “WEF Lighthouse Network 2021” He will be one of the main speakers on the panel.
The Digitalization Wave and the Strategic Roadmap
A special and comprehensive roadmap was drawn up for Arçelik within the Koç Group's digital transformation process. Levent Çakıroğlu described the transformation at the Eskişehir factory as an "inspiring success story" and shared the details of the process:
- Consumer-Focused Innovation: To meet the increasing consumer demands and quality expectations for its expanding product range, Arçelik has developed more than 30 ’best practice scenarios“.
- Internal Resources and Partnerships: Within the company Workshop 4.0 And Garage Innovation and advanced engineering platforms were actively used. Furthermore, strategic collaborations were established with SMEs, universities, and start-ups.
- Low Cost, High Efficiency: Thanks to these established collaborations and the use of internal resources, digital applications were rapidly implemented with low investment costs.
- Rapid Adaptation to the Pandemic: Thanks to the digitalization of its operations, the factory adapted with extraordinary speed to the sudden changes in demand and challenges brought about by the pandemic.
Çakıroğlu also stated that new capacity investments are among their plans to meet increasing customer demand.
Transformation in Numbers: How Did the Factory Become “Smart”?
Arçelik's Eskişehir Refrigerator Factory, which has become one of the world's leading production facilities, stands out with its technological infrastructure and achieved efficiency scores. Here are the striking features that set the factory apart from its competitors and led to its selection as a "Global Lighthouse":
Artificial Intelligence and Decision-Making Mechanisms
Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and autonomous systems capable of making their own decisions are used extensively in the factory. Thanks to the AI-based decision-making solutions that have been implemented:
- Significant improvements have been made in quality indicators.
- Customer complaints %20 It was reduced by a certain percentage.
Increased Capacity and Cost Savings
By integrating intelligent, self-deciding systems into machines:
- Production capacity %43 increased.
- In conversion costs %17 Savings of that percentage were achieved.
Sustainability and Green Production
Digital solutions have increased not only efficiency but also environmental awareness:
- In overall carbon emissions %14’A 'sight' improvement was achieved.
- Instead of using forklifts inside the factory Autonomous Mobile Robots It was integrated. By automating the material distribution system, carbon emissions from logistics were reduced. %7’A further improvement of '...' was achieved.
- Energy efficiency through optimization of main production processes. %19 increased.
Data Power and Robotics Infrastructure
The factory operates almost like a living data center:
- Every day 7.5 million Data is being collected and processed.
- On the production line 11 cutting-edge robots And 3,500 sensors He is actively serving.
- Another noteworthy detail is that the factory uses digitally designed production equipment.
Peak Employee Engagement
Technological transformation has also had a positive impact on human resources. Effective change management, active employee involvement in the process, and enhancement of their competencies have resulted in:
- Employee engagement rate %82’This rate has risen to [number]. This rate is even above the average for "best employers".
These data prove that Arçelik Eskişehir Refrigerator Factory is a center where not only the machines but also the human resources and processes are digitized, implementing the production model of the future today.
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