On January 15th, the World Economic Forum (WEF) officially announced its latest list of “Lighthouse Factories.” Michelin Shenyang Tire Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the Michelin Shenyang Plant) was successfully selected as a global “Lighthouse Factory” due to its systematic application of digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine vision, and big data in the entire tire manufacturing process. It became the first and currently the only passenger car tire manufacturer in China to receive this honor. This milestone achievement not only demonstrates the Michelin Shenyang Plant’s global leading strength in the intelligent and digital fields of tire manufacturing, but also confirms the Michelin Group’s long-term commitment and benchmark practice of deeply cultivating China for over 30 years and driving high-quality development of the manufacturing industry with new productivity. It also injects strong momentum into the intelligent upgrading of China’s tire manufacturing industry. Digital empowerment significantly boosts productivity across the entire process. Kiva Allgood, Director and Head of the World Economic Forum’s Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chains, pointed out: “Today’s competitiveness is no longer defined solely by efficiency, but rather by a company’s ability to quickly perceive, adapt flexibly, and respond rapidly to change.” In recent years, facing the rapid growth of the new energy vehicle market and the continuous upgrading of demand for customized tires, Michelin’s Shenyang plant has been accelerating its new energy vehicle tire product layout, with the number of product specifications surging by 340%, currently exceeding 250 specifications. This rapid expansion has posed new challenges to high-speed automated production lines, requiring the plant to build greater production flexibility, stronger small-batch manufacturing capabilities, further shorten new product introduction cycles, and adhere to stricter quality standards. To precisely address this industry challenge, Michelin’s Shenyang plant deployed more than 30 digital solutions, deeply integrating artificial intelligence, machine vision, and big data technologies. This not only successfully met the challenges but also achieved a significant leap in productivity—a vivid example of new-quality productivity in the tire manufacturing field. Digital transformation has significantly improved production flexibility, trial production efficiency, and product quality, achieving remarkable results such as a 71% reduction in minimum order quantity, a 51% reduction in trial production delivery cycle, and a 36% decrease in product defect rate.
Rooted in China for over 30 years, Michelin continues to lead the upgrade of high-end intelligent manufacturing. As Michelin Group’s largest and most advanced high-end passenger car tire manufacturing base globally, the Michelin Shenyang Factory has continuously promoted technological innovation and management upgrades since its establishment in 1995. The factory has successively won many authoritative certifications such as “National Excellent Intelligent Factory” and “National 5G Factory”, accumulating profound experience in intelligent manufacturing.
</ … “The Shenyang plant is a significant milestone in Michelin’s development in China and a prime example of the deep integration of the Michelin spirit and Chinese manufacturing,” said Ye Fei, President and CEO of Michelin Greater China and Mongolia. “From local manufacturing to global intelligent manufacturing, the leapfrog development of the Michelin Shenyang plant not only demonstrates Michelin’s leading position in the global tire manufacturing industry but also contributes to the upgrading of China’s manufacturing industry. Being recognized as a ‘Lighthouse Factory’ is the best recognition of our more than 30 years of deep cultivation in China and our commitment to innovation.” Starting with the lighthouse as a starting point, the plant continues to exert a demonstrative and leading effect. The selection of the Michelin Shenyang plant as a global “Lighthouse Factory” not only signifies that its intelligent manufacturing level has reached the forefront globally but also fills a gap in China’s passenger car tire industry in this field, providing a benchmark for the transformation and upgrading of China’s manufacturing industry. Its “data-driven + intelligent empowerment” model, formed under complex product structures and high automation conditions, provides a clear and referable path for the digital transformation of traditional manufacturing industries. Looking ahead, the Michelin Shenyang plant will take this "Lighthouse Factory" designation as a new starting point to continuously deepen its digital and intelligent transformation, accelerate the deep application of next-generation information technologies such as artificial intelligence in manufacturing scenarios, and further improve production efficiency and product innovation capabilities. At the same time, leveraging the global network and resource advantages of the Michelin Group, the plant will actively play a leading role as a "lighthouse," sharing replicable and scalable intelligent manufacturing experiences with the entire industry, and helping the global tire manufacturing industry move towards a new stage of higher-quality development.
