Bangalore, February 16th, 2015: In a significant endorsement of India as a major global manufacturing destination, GE officially unveiled its new 'Brilliant Factory' at Chakan II in Pune, Maharashtra. At a ceremony today the facility was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi in the presence of the Governor of Maharashtra, Shri Ch. Vidyasagar Rao and Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis. GE leadership was represented by John G Rice, Vice Chairman, GE and Banmali Agrawala, President & CEO, GE South Asia who also announced plans for a Phase II expansion.

The 'Brilliant Factory' is one of GE's most advanced facilities bringing together automation, the Industrial Internet and 3D printing. It is built on the concept of flexibility, allowing for the manufacturing of a diverse set of products and catering to GE's broad range of businesses, including aviation, oil & gas and rail. It will also serve both domestic and export markets, working on the principle of a 'Shared Centre of Excellence' on process, capability and human capital aimed at driving economies of scale.

Addressing the gathering Shri Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, Governor of Maharashtra said, "Maharashtra has always been a key contributor to India's industrial progress. GE's Multi-Modal facility is testament to the conducive business environment provided by the state and to the industrious people of Maharashtra. Such initiatives will further strengthen the economic status of the state and benefit the people at large through technological excellence."

Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra said, "This is truly a momentous occasion for Maharashtra and India. The setting up of such an advanced manufacturing facility is possible because of the highly skilled workforce available in the Pune Region. This GE facility will fuel opportunities in the area of employment, technology and innovation. The 'Brilliant Factory' sets a new benchmark in global manufacturing competitiveness in India and I am proud that it is in Maharashtra."

Sharing his comments, John G. Rice, Vice Chairman, GE said, "Today signifies a proud milestone for GE in India and the next step in our technology and innovation partnership, a journey that started over 110 years ago. Our operations here in Pune help us to compete locally and globally and play an important role in the resurgence of India's manufacturing sector and in the country's growth and development."

In the first phase of operations, the facility is focused on products and solutions for the power generation, oil & gas and transportation industries. Plans for Phase II of the site will include manufacturing capability for new generation aviation engine components and machining and sub-assembly for the latest rail locomotives and diesel engines. Spread over 68 acres in MIDC Industrial Park at Chakan II, the facility will generate over 1500 jobs and support the growth of local businesses, many of whom will be SME suppliers. One of GE's first multi-modal integrated manufacturing sites, the facility has a potential to scale to 1 million square feet, and will export 50% of what it produces to other GE global sites.

The facility is aviation quality standard AS9100 certified, is undergoing 'green building certification' by the Indian green building council (IGBC) and will be powered using captive solar power.

Brilliant Factory The concept of the Brilliant Factory is simple: creating a digital connection, or 'thread' across three major areas of the value chain: manufacturing systems design, manufacturing systems operations and service operations. By creating a feedback loop from design to product engineering to manufacturing engineering to manufacturing and supply chain operation to services and back to engineering, factories can cut learning cycles between manufacturing and design, allowing for faster product development and flawless factory launches. Once a design has been determined, it is transmitted digitally to manufacturing engineering. Here the manufacturing processes are modelled and simulated. In addition, factory flow and layout, robots and manufacturing controls will be simulated and optimised prior to actual production.