Smart Green Integration: Transforming into Reality | Three Directions, One Set of Standards

Intelligentization does not equate to equipment automation. According to the “Smart Manufacturing Capability Maturity Model” (GB/T 39116-2020), the maturity level of the entire value chain—encompassing design, production, logistics, sales, and service—must be assessed, rather than relying on the automation rate of a single production line as evidence of advanced capabilities.

Green transformation cannot rely solely on qualitative descriptions. Only when an energy‑consumption baseline, clear accounting boundaries, and traceable data are all in place can the value of energy‑saving upgrades be substantiated.

The prerequisite for integration is the establishment of unified standards. Only when data definitions, carbon‑accounting frameworks, and system architectures are aligned can industrial collaboration truly take root. Without a common benchmark for comparison, transformation efforts risk giving rise to speculative hype—precisely why the conference has repeatedly underscored the importance of a high‑quality standards framework.

A standard is a reliable evaluation framework.

Many enterprises treat standards as technical documents and equate conformity assessment with “obtaining certification.” In reality, a high‑quality standards system delivers threefold value: it defines boundaries, distinguishing genuine transformation from mere conceptual marketing; it ensures consistent measurement, enabling regulators, leading firms in the supply chain, and procurement processes to apply a common yardstick; and it regulates the market, curbing the rampant practice of low‑price, low‑quality products masquerading as advanced manufacturing. Together, standards and conformity assessment essentially transform an enterprise’s internal transformation efforts into evidence that is credible and widely accepted by both government authorities and upstream and downstream stakeholders.

Implementation Leverage: Green Triple Ledger, Intelligent Tiered Development

Green: Establishing three distinct accounting systems. Energy Accounting—clarify energy‑use boundaries, establish an energy‑consumption baseline, implement process‑level metering, and strengthen data integrity through an energy management system and energy‑efficiency diagnostics. Carbon Accounting—conduct organizational greenhouse‑gas verification and product carbon‑footprint assessments, standardize accounting methodologies, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and supply‑chain acceptance. Factory Accounting—develop green factories, zero‑carbon factories, and industrial parks; maintain a complete audit trail of transformation measures to mitigate challenges in re‑verification and evidence‑gathering.

Smart manufacturing should begin with diagnosis and tiered classification, followed by phased development. It is essential to identify key weaknesses and implement tiered planning and construction, avoiding the trap of blindly rushing toward higher levels. Two benchmark indicators: According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in August 2026, the number of national green factories has reached 8,336, with their output value accounting for 22% of the total output value of large-scale manufacturing—up from 9%—and aiming to reach 45% by the end of the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Meanwhile, smart factories have established a four-tiered development framework, encompassing basic, advanced, excellent, and leading levels.

Leave the “clear explanation” to us.

Beijing United Zhiye Certification Co., Ltd. (UICC) has long been deeply engaged in the fields of standards and certification, green and low‑carbon development, and intelligent manufacturing. It holds management system, product, and service certification qualifications approved by the State Administration for Market Regulation, with its key certification domains accredited by both CNAS and UKAS. UICC also serves as the Industrial Energy Conservation and Green Development Evaluation Center under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, a provider of green manufacturing upgrade solutions, an intelligent manufacturing systems integrator, and a national energy‑conservation diagnostic service provider. Leveraging its expertise in standards and conformity assessment, UICC helps enterprises establish robust, credible management systems and evidence‑based frameworks, enabling manufacturers to align with national industrial policies and steadily implement transformations toward intelligence, sustainability, and digital‑physical integration.