Tackling Manufacturing Complexity with a Digital Backbone
Today's manufacturing landscape is incredibly complex. Customers want smart, connected, and personalized products. This creates pressure across the entire value chain. Companies must master complexity to stay competitive. They can either simplify operations or embrace complexity. Embracing complexity is a new way of working. It integrates data, domains, and processes.
Innovation at the Boundaries
Innovation now happens at the boundaries. Domains like mechanical, electrical, and software are converging. Integrating these disciplines is challenging. Software development cycles are fast-moving. Hardware engineering timelines are more traditional. The product lifecycle is also blurring. "Designed for manufacturability" is no longer enough. Companies must manage overlapping activities. This includes design, manufacturing, and service.
Legacy Systems Fall Short
Most current systems can't handle this. Many organizations use fragmented, legacy IT. These systems create silos and inefficiencies. They miss opportunities for innovation. To solve this, Siemens created a "digital backbone." This unifying layer connects the entire lifecycle. It goes from product concept to service delivery. It integrates multiple domains. Users see only the information they need.
Three Pillars of the Digital Backbone
The backbone rests on three pillars. The first pillar is the digital twin. This is a simulation model of the product. It mirrors the physical world. It also models manufacturing and service. Real-world data refines these simulations. Siemens acquired Altair to boost this. This acquisition was for almost $10 billion. Siemens now has enhanced simulation and AI. Customers can model components and systems.
The second pillar is lifecycle intelligence. This manages engineering data. It gives the right people the right information. It contextualizes data across teams. This supports faster decision-making. The third pillar is scalability. The backbone deploys flexibly for any company size. Cloud-native architecture makes it easy. Companies can scale capabilities as needed.
Real-World Impact
The backbone is effective in aerospace. Product complexity there is very high. It connects previously siloed domains. This creates unified development environments. It also supports faster iteration. Companies can include suppliers and partners. They share a collaborative environment. Digital maturity becomes a differentiator.
In automotive, benefits are clear. Siemens' solution is much faster. Bill-of-materials configurations solve 20 times faster. This means seconds instead of hours. Unified configuration management is another benefit. It ensures only validated variants are sold. This minimizes errors and improves satisfaction.
AI as a Driving Force
Artificial intelligence is integral to this. Siemens uses AI to enhance the backbone. It delivers insights to engineers automatically. AI can analyze warranty data. It detects root causes of failures. It can also suggest design changes. Teams can then make informed decisions. AI also benefits simulation work. It significantly reduces setup time. Complex assemblies can be processed in minutes.
From Design to Operations
The digital backbone is critical in operations. AI can diagnose issues on the shop floor. It recommends corrective actions. It also updates maintenance procedures. Wearable technology delivers this information. This supports "full power" operations. Virtual and physical worlds interact seamlessly. Engineers can simulate fixes. They can also propagate updated procedures.
Strategic Positioning for the Future
Siemens invested in infrastructure and cloud. This positions the company well. It has scalable platforms and expertise. Siemens helps clients turn complexity into an asset. Mastering complexity may define future leaders. Siemens makes the case for thriving in complexity. The digital backbone is at the center of this.