Internet Explorer, Chrome Browser, Firefox Browser, Safari Browser
Press Release12 September 2018Digital Factory Stuttgart
Siemens intensifies collaboration with SME to implement Industry 4.0
Klaus Helmrich, Managing Board Member of Siemens AG, at the "Forum Deutscher Mittelstand" (German SME Forum) in Stuttgart.
According to Helmrich, "the successful digital transformation of small to medium-sized businesses requires strategic decisions by top management on two levels. They need to align their portfolio with Industry 4.0 and further develop their internal processes. This also includes training and further education for employees." For example, companies should offer new solutions, digital services and business models, such as "pay per use" models for the sale of machinery and plant. In addition, innovative technologies such as cloud applications, additive manufacturing, flexible handling systems or artificial intelligence must be used. Integrated industrial security measures are essential to increase confidence in IT technologies and minimize cyber risks.
The technical prerequisites for digital transformation are, for example, now in place thanks to the Siemens Digital Enterprise portfolio. Companies of any size and industry can benefit from this with manageable, gradually increasing investment costs. As a result, they can already achieve greater flexibility, shorter time-to-market, increased efficiency and enhanced quality today. According to Siemens, there are concrete examples of customer applications which demonstrate that products, plant and machinery can be developed in up to 30 percent less time. Production efficiency and productivity can be increased by up to a quarter.
One already available platform for digital solutions is MindSphere – the open, cloud-based IoT operating system from Siemens - which helps companies to gain a competitive edge by using data analysis. Users can implement MindSphere with minimal investment and scale it according to their requirements. In this context, Helmrich cited the user organization "MindSphere World", founded in January 2018 and currently comprising more than 50 members (in Germany and Italy), as an example of new forms of cooperation. Its goal is to expand the ecosystem around MindSphere worldwide. The association supports the individual members in developing and optimizing IoT solutions on MindSphere as well as opening up new markets in the digital economy.
"MindSphere World is exemplary for new forms of cooperation between companies of different sizes and industries as well as start-ups and research institutions," according to Klaus Helmrich. "I'm convinced that this kind of collaboration is the key to the success of Industry 4.0."
Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for 170 years. The company is active around the globe, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitization. One of the world's largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is a leading supplier of efficient power generation and power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure solutions as well as automation, drive and software solutions for industry. The company with its listed subsidiary Siemens Healthineers AG is also a leading provider of medical imaging equipment – such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems – and a leader in laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical IT. In fiscal 2017, which ended on September 30, 2017, Siemens generated revenue of €83.0 billion and net income of €6.2 billion. At the end of September 2017, Siemens had around 377,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.
Contact
David Petry
Siemens AG
Werner-von-Siemens-Str. 65
91052 Erlangen
Germany
91052 Erlangen
Germany
+49 (911) 895-7975