End-to-End Lighthouses followed, recognising companies that integrate 4IR tools beyond the factory floor. 

Sustainability Lighthouses were added in 2021 for those using technology to achieve environmental gains while remaining profitable. 

The Talent designation was first awarded in September 2025.

While it has always been recognised as an enabler in these categorisations, global labour shortages showed that technology alone cannot sustain 4IR gains without a similar people-centred transformation. 

This recognises facilities for progress in five areas:

  • Work design: Using robots or AI to remove dangerous or repetitive tasks
  • Talent planning: Using data to predict what skills the company will need in the future
  • Talent attraction: Creating digital training programmes to attract younger generations
  • Skilling and upskilling: Deploying augmented or virtual reality training or no-skill pathways that allow anyone to learn complex tasks quickly
  • Worker experience: Using digital platforms to give frontline workers more control over their career growth. 

All manufacturing leaders should attend:

Co-located with Sustainability LIVE, these events bring together Chief Operations Officers, Chief Procurement Officers and senior decision-makers to discuss the strategies building the future. 

Book your tickets online today with group discounts available.

Schneider Electric’s Wuhan factory

From 2024 to 2026, the Wuhan factory increased automation by 55% and expanded its product portfolio by 239%.

Initially just 20% of employees were skilled in automation, onboarding took 75 days and technician turnover reached 48%. 

To address these challenges, Schneider implemented what it describes as a “future-ready, people-centric workforce model”. 

It partnered with 11 vocational schools to deliver digital apprenticeships, AI labs and scholarships, creating a sustainable skills pipeline. 

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