TCS opens India's first lights-out factory lab in Pune

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has launched what it describes as India's first lights-out factory lab at its Sahyadri Park campus in Pune, marking a significant step in advancing artificial intelligence-led manufacturing capabilities. The Industrial Autonomy & Engineering Lab houses a fully robotic battery pack assembly line designed to operate with minimal human intervention.

A lights-out factory represents a new generation of manufacturing facility where autonomous systems manage production lines, enabling round-the-clock operations without requiring a conventional workforce on the factory floor. The TCS facility combines digital twins, robotics, industrial AI, factory control systems and real-time operational intelligence to create self-optimising production environments.

The live multi-stage setup enables manufacturers to prototype, validate and scale AI-first production systems while significantly reducing the risks associated with deploying new technologies. By simulating advanced autonomous workflows, the lab provides a testbed for manufacturers to refine processes before full-scale implementation.

The initiative reflects growing interest among Indian enterprises and technology companies in leveraging automation and artificial intelligence to enhance manufacturing efficiency and competitiveness in an increasingly technology-driven global marketplace.