At the 2026 Lean Digital Innovation Conference, hosted from September 5th to 7th at the Tianjin National Convention and Exhibition Center, Wang Hongyan, Chairman of Airui Group, Founder of the China Manufacturing International Forum, and Vice President of the China Enterprise Reform and Development Research Society, delivered a keynote address.

Wang Hongyan highlighted four standout milestones of this year's conference. First, AI applications have transitioned into full-scale practice, with every forum centered on case studies where AI augments a lean foundation, as numerous companies have already launched successful AI implementation projects.

Second, the competition reached unprecedented scale, with the fourth edition attracting over 2,200 entries spanning frontline team leaders, mid-level managers, and senior executives, genuinely achieving the goals of nurturing talent through competition and promoting learning through participation. A distinguished panel of 150 judges, drawn from leading enterprises and academic institutions, has significantly elevated the event's professional rigor.

Third, in a national first, major industrial players, including China National Nuclear Corporation and CRRC, showcased their digital intelligence achievements publicly, sharing innovative experiences accumulated internally over many years.

Fourth, the conference released a collection of case studies and two industry standards, the "Lean Digital Evaluation Standards" and "Lean Digital Management Standards," distilling exemplary practices from over 40 industries to provide a roadmap for sector-wide transformation.

Addressing frontier consensus within the industry, she shared three core perspectives conveyed by the conference. Industrial AI development should follow a path of mass participation rather than an elite-only approach, given that over 80% of AI project contributors in this competition originate from frontline production and management roles. Lean remains the essence of manufacturing growth, and AI-enabled production must preserve the lean foundation. Finally, as 2026 marks the inaugural year of industrial AI, China's achievements in complex industrial scenarios are already demonstrating global leadership potential.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step," Wang Hongyan remarked, noting that after 23 years of dedication, the conference remains steadfast in its mission to advance manufacturing innovation and will continue to accompany manufacturing enterprises on their path toward lean digital transformation.