Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has opened a test environment for production with minimal human intervention at its Industrial Autonomy & Engineering Lab in Pune. The so-called “Lights Out Factory” features, among other things, a robotic assembly line for battery packs.
Manufacturers can use the facility to simulate production processes and test applications before deploying them in an actual factory. According to TCS, the environment is designed for tasks such as predictive maintenance, automated quality inspection, and process adjustments based on real-time production data. The company utilizes robotics, AI, and digital twins—virtual models used to simulate and analyze factory scenarios.
The facility is part of TCS’s work in industrial automation. The company previously opened a laboratory in Bengaluru in collaboration with NVIDIA, focusing on physical AI applications for industry and mobility.
TCS cites labor shortages and energy costs as reasons why manufacturers—including those in the Netherlands—are exploring advanced automation. The company has not provided examples of Dutch manufacturers using the new test environment, nor has it released results from applications already tested there.
