What makes a factory sustainable? This leader spent 5 years on the factory floor to find out

Industrial operations contribute 30 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, making sustainable manufacturing a key priority in the path to net zero. According to Western Digital’s Jung, true corporate sustainability rests on three pillars: minimizing environmental impact, maximizing operational efficiency, and empowering workers to deliver on both.

To bring this vision to life, Jung spent five years on the ground at Western Digital’s factories in Thailand and Malaysia. These facilities are now recognized as Fourth Industrial Revolution Lighthouses. The Prachinburi factory has cut energy use by 16 percent, carbon emissions by 40 percent, and water consumption by 15 percent. A smart recycling system powered by IoT sensors and machine learning has increased water recycling rates from 70 to over 90 percent.

Western Digital is now applying these lessons across its global operations. For Jung, the next step is encouraging the next generation to see manufacturing as a meaningful career. With its mix of advanced technology, societal impact and lifestyle flexibility, manufacturing offers a powerful platform for those passionate about sustainability.

More public-private collaboration is still needed, however, to drive industrial decarbonization at the speed and scale required.