Automotive assembly plants require precise timing, synchronization of incoming materials from over a hundred suppliers, and agility for customer demands. OEMs require short response time and assign financial penalties when a supplier commits an error. Software integration and communications among the OEM and suppliers can help solve this problem, but support and management often consumes the budget. Proven and supported software could provide a way out of this trap.

Summary
Asset integrity is the ability of an asset to perform its required function effectively and efficiently while protecting health, safety and the environment. Asset integrity management helps ensure that the people, systems, processes and resources that deliver integrity are in place, in use, and can perform as required over the whole lifecycle of the asset. Asset integrity management is one of the biggest challenges and primary concerns for asset-intensive industries like oil & gas.

Effective asset performance management (APM) requires real-time maintenance execution so maintenance tasks can be planned and performed when needed based on actual operating and asset conditions. This helps avoid critical equipment failures and associated unplanned equipment downtime. This approach involves integrating technologies, people, and processes to provide the right information at the right time.

Summary
ARC Advisory Group attended Siemens Industry 2014 China Forum, held this summer in Beijing. During the event, Feng Fei, Director of Industry Policy Division under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT); Prof. Russwurm, Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG, and CEO of Siemens Industry; Mr. Herrmann, CEO of Siemens Ltd., China; and other senior executives from Siemens China participated and delivered speeches.