Zeiss Vision Care's manufacturing base in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, is an outcome of the deep synergy between Chinese intelligent manufacturing efficiency and German precision engineering, company executives said.

Located in the Huangpu district of the provincial capital, the base was added to the World Economic Forum's Global Lighthouse Network last Thursday, showcasing its leading global standards in digitalization, intelligent transformation and green development, according to a statement released by the district government.

Previously, the base had been certified as a national-level Green Factory.

As the highest honor for intelligent and digital transformation in global manufacturing, Lighthouse factories represent the pinnacle of industrial excellence. As of January, the number of Lighthouse factories has reached 224 worldwide.

"The achievement marks Zeiss Vision's dual leap in technological breakthroughs and management model export, achieved by deeply integrating 180 years of profound optical heritage with Industry 4.0 technologies," it added.

Benjamin Viering, chief operating officer and chief technology officer of Zeiss Vision Care, said: "For us, it is an honor to receive formal recognition as a Lighthouse for customer centricity at our manufacturing site in Guangzhou."

With 10 years of Industry 4.0 exploration, Zeiss Vision Care, by now, fully utilizes most of the cutting-edge tools and ideas to help build effective and efficient production lines, which in turn help Zeiss serve individual consumers all around the world, said Viering.

Through full-link digital innovation and technological implementation in high-precision optical manufacturing, the manufacturing base has incorporated core capabilities ranging from customer demand insight to final value delivery, successfully joining the global first echelon of customer-centric intelligent manufacturing.

The base will shoulder production of precision optical lenses, mainly for vision care, using advanced digital manufacturing systems to improve efficiency, quality control, and customization for different customer needs, the statement said.

Zeiss Vision Care China has released an annual sustainable development report, integrating the concept of green manufacturing into the entire value chain, setting clear quantitative targets for emission reduction and resource conservation, and fulfilling its global climate responsibility commitments, it added.

Winston Yang, president and CEO of Zeiss Vision Care China, said,"Zeiss Vision is committed to protecting and improving the vision and lifetime visual health of the world's consumers."

"Since establishing its presence in Guangzhou, we have adhered to the principles of 'innovation-driven development' and 'deep local roots', promoting the deep integration of digital technology and precision manufacturing," said Yang.

Coinciding with the 180th anniversary of the Zeiss Group, the selection as a Global Lighthouse factory marks a brand-new starting point, he said.

"Going forward, Zeiss Vision will take the Guangzhou Lighthouse factory as a benchmark, implement the development path of 'In China, beyond China', support the high-quality development of China's optical lens industry, and drive the coordinated digital and green upgrading of the regional high-end manufacturing cluster," Yang said.

zhengcaixiong@chinadaily.com.cn