Siemens is Enabling SMEs to Participate in Industrie 4-0

Many of the technologies we are now talking about in the context of Industrie 4.0 have long been available for OEMs and end users.  Especially in the area of automation hardware, it "simply" refers to openness, network capability, the ability to collect and analyze data, as well as distributed computing power. All things that are well known.

However, Industrie 4.0 is taking off now as it had not done a few years ago. One of the reasons for this is the development in internet speed and network capabilities, as well as the development is software. Virtualization and digitalization are now at a level that has not been seen, and it will further develop over the next years as leading automation companies develop these fields. One of the companies driving this development is Siemens with its unique portfolio from controllers to PLM software. That this will continue was confirmed by Klaus Helmrich, member of the Siemens AG managing board, who gave a presentation at the Siemens Press conference, showing that Siemens continues its strategy on offering the Digital enterprise as their portfolio of solutions for the inmplementation of Industrie 4.0. Core elements of this are:

1. Applying digital software suite (Teamcenter)

2. Putting in place an industrial communication network

3. Safe and secure production automation

4. Business specific industrial services,

Long was digitalization and virtualization seen to be a topic for large customers. However, with software being available in small to large packages, and with the right support from suppliers, this would also enable SMEs to participate in this development.  And, Mr. Helmrich named two SME customers. This is especially important for the European market, where small and mid-size OEMs and end users are an important part of the landscape. Without the support of these innovative companies, the whole concept of Industrie 4.0 would be significantly slower.

Mr Helmrich insisted that the impact of a digital strategy impacts multiple disciplines - R&D, engineering, production, and IT at a minimum - and that the decision to implement such a strategy can only be taken by a CEO.   ARC believes there may be SMEs in advanced economies that are ready for such an approach, but that a lot of education may still be needed to bring SMEs to the maturity level needed for such a comprehensive strategy.

Another highlight of the presentation was that Siemens will provide the Siemens Industry Cloud based on SAP Hana Cloud technology. The Hannover fair focuses on Industrie 4.0 for the discrete industries, and gives a preview of digitalization in the process industries. Siemens will have a stronger focus on the process industries at the ACHEMA fair in June 2015, as the ACHEMA remains to be the most important fair for process automation and process industries.