Hisense, a China-based electronics manufacturer, has had its Qingdao factory recognised by the World Economic Forum (WEF) as a “Customer Centricity Lighthouse.”
The designation is a world-first for the television industry and places the Hisense Visual Technology Qingdao Factory within WEF’s Global Ligthouse Network. The network highlights industrial sites that successfully apply advanced digital technology to enhance customer value, speed-to-market, and operational performance.
In a media release, the company says its factory faced challenges from evolving consumer demand and cost pressure as it navigates a mature and highly competitive global TV market.
In response to the challenges, the company initiated a comprehensive digital overhaul of the site, which involved embedding advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data analytics, industrial simulation and large-scale virtual reality throughout the entire production process – from research and development (R&D) to manufacturing.
As a result of these changes, the factory reported several measurable outcomes. It achieved a net promoter score (NPS) of 84%, reduced its R&D cycles by 34%, and lowered material costs by 18%. The time required for new employee training was shortened by 60%, and the cycle from identifying a customer need to implementing it as a product function was reduced by 62%. Additionally, the manufacturing cycle for 85-inch televisions was improved to 20 seconds per unit.
The company says it calls the new designation a key milestone in its digital transformation and intelligent manufacturing strategy.
“At Hisense, intelligent manufacturing starts from consumer needs,” said Hisense President Dennys Li. “By building a human-centric manufacturing system, we translate customer insights into real product value with greater speed and precision.”
This is Hisense’s third Lighthouse designation from the WEF. A previous recognition was awarded to the Hisense Hitachi Huangdao factory, which was named the world’s first Sustainability Lighthouse in the variable refrigerant flow VRF sector.
