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DCM Shriram’s Jhagadia chemicals plant joins WEF’s Global Lighthouse Network

DCM Shriram’s Jhagadia chemicals plant joins WEF’s Global Lighthouse Network

DCM Shriram Ltd.'s chemicals manufacturing facility at Jhagadia in Gujarat's Bharuch district has been inducted into the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Global Lighthouse Network (GLN) with Distinction in Productivity, becoming one of only 16 industrial sites globally to receive the recognition in 2026.

As per a statement, the recognition places the Jhagadia facility among 238 manufacturing sites worldwide that have been identified by the WEF for successfully deploying Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to improve productivity, sustainability, operational agility and manufacturing excellence.

It stated that the Distinction in Productivity category recognises manufacturing sites that have achieved significant improvements in cost efficiency and product quality through technology-led transformation, including better asset utilisation, workforce enablement and resource optimisation.

DCM Shriram said the Jhagadia facility, India's largest caustic soda manufacturing site, has implemented 45 digital and analytics-based solutions, including AI-enabled process control systems and a generative AI-powered maintenance manager, as part of its digital transformation programme.

According to the company, the initiatives helped improve EBITDA by 11 percentage points, reduce power costs by 32 percent, lower material costs by 15 percent and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 14 percent.

The recognition follows the implementation of Project BLESSED (Becoming a Lighthouse through Exemplary Safety Systems & Excellence in Digitalization), a strategic programme launched in July 2024 to accelerate digitalisation, strengthen safety systems and improve operational performance through advanced technologies, data-driven decision-making and workforce enablement.

"We are honoured to receive this recognition from the World Economic Forum. It reflects DCM Shriram's long-standing commitment to building world-class manufacturing businesses driven by technology, innovation and operational excellence," Ajay S. Shriram, Chairman and Senior Managing Director, and Vikram S. Shriram, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of DCM Shriram Ltd., said in a joint statement.

"The recognition of our Jhagadia Chemicals site demonstrates how focused investments in digital transformation, combined with the dedication of our people, can deliver significant improvements in productivity, competitiveness and sustainability," they said.

The company said the recognition reinforces its strategy of combining digital technologies with operational discipline to drive long-term productivity gains and sustainable manufacturing while strengthening its competitiveness in the chemicals business.