Source page: McKinsey & Company
Commentary
Lighthouse beacon expands
Technology | Sustainability | Talent
March 26, 2025 – The Global Lighthouse Network comprises 189 sites across various industries. In October 2024 and January 2025, 36 new sites were designated as part of the network, which showcases the implementation of technology, talent, and sustainability solutions. The network is a World Economic Forum initiative cofounded with McKinsey. The latest site additions demonstrate a continued global effort to enhance operational efficiency and sustainability in manufacturing and other sectors, note Partner Dinu de Kroon and coauthors.
To read the article, see “Lessons from the Lighthouses,” February 21, 2025.
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Visual form
World map with numbered site markers and an industry list.
Layout / body structure
The chart is split into two linked layers: a large map across the top and a structured site directory below it. Read the map first to see the geographic spread and the numbered callouts, then read down through the industry sections below to match each number to a company, location, and Lighthouse designation.
What is being compared
It compares newly designated Lighthouse sites in 2024 across countries, regions, industries, and Lighthouse types. The visual also situates those new designations inside the broader Global Lighthouse Network total of 189 sites.
Measurement system
The chart uses site counts and categorical labels rather than a numeric axis. Color encodes Lighthouse type such as E2E Lighthouse, Factory Lighthouse, and Sustainability Lighthouse, while the numbered markers tie the mapped locations to the company list below.
Visible structure inside the graphic
The upper half is a two-globe world map covered with connector lines and numbered colored circles placed near the relevant locations. The lower half is a long, multi-column reference list grouped by industry, so the visual combines geographic placement, designation type, and company identification in one chart.
Main takeaway from the visual
The graphic shows that the new Lighthouse designations are globally distributed but visibly concentrated in Asia, especially China and nearby manufacturing hubs. The map is densely populated on the right-hand globe, and the industry list below reinforces how many of the new sites sit in industrial, electronics, pharmaceutical, and related sectors.
Key standout values or extremes
The headline number is 189 total sites in the Global Lighthouse Network. Within the 2024 designation set, many of the numbered additions cluster in China, while the list also shows representation from Europe, the Middle East, North America, Latin America, and Africa, making the spread broad but uneven.
Controls / sequence, when applicable
This is a static chart image with no in-chart controls to operate.
Companion media, when applicable
There is no separate companion audio or video; the chart image is the full visual on this page.