Siemens 2018 PLM Connection Opening Address
PLM World celebrates its 40th user conference, Siemens PLM Connection Americas, in Phoenix, Arizona. This event provides opportunity to learn about the integration of newer Siemens acquisitions into its Digital Factory division, plus hear first-hand significant new functionality in product and service offerings plus collaboration tools. The event has 2,000 attendees from 430 companies, over half customers, the balance partners and Siemens.
Professor Nate Hartman from Purdue University and chairperson of PLM World, welcomed attendees, spoke on “Realizing the Potential of Digitalization”. In China last week, 5,000 people attended their PLM conference: there is a hunger to understand Digitalization such as factory automation, IoT connectivity. He cited a Nobel prize-winning economist in the 1970s stating that wide computer adoption had not yet been realized in productivity statistics. But just like wide adoption of electric power needed the grid, or cars ability to drive nationwide needed a highway system, software needed integration and a platform. “Digitalization success depends less on having the most advanced technologies and more on having the right operational systems”
Tony Hemmelberger, President and CEO of Siemens PLM Software, provided the opening address, richly illustrated with examples. For Siemens PLM, the platform is Ideation + Realization + Utilization. Product development is systems driven, with smart discovery and work management supported by predictive engineering analysis. "Space Search" with Bill of Materials management identifies already-designed components that can be re-used or adapted. Their tools simplify revising manufacturing procedures, streamline managing execution, automatically generate PLC changes. Siemens use IoT with MindSphere to capture real data for comparison against their digital twins, to ensure that it matches real life. The acquisition of Mentor Graphics brought in smarter manufacturability.
Siemens claims to be the only one that can bring back real data in a closed loop manner to update their component and system designs, using the same integrated tools. Siemens has invested $6.3 billion in R&D across core Technologies. Here is just one of their differentiators: there are many companies that can use additive technologies to print a part – but how many can industrialize at significant scale unless they have a holistic approach? Siemens integrated approach has slashed development times, reduced physical testing needs with HEEDS optimization.
Starting back in 2007, Siemens over a 10-year period invested $10 billion in acquiring firms, such as LME Testing, CD-Adapco and Mentor. They also acquired secondary shares in Bentley, and with them funding a strategic alliance for joint development of solutions.
During Connect 18, PLM World will showcase active workspace in the TeamCenter platform, adding inexpensive one-click Virtual reality experience, and enabling Microsoft Teams with Slack. Artificial Intelligence R&D has enabled automatic classification of parts using shape management tools. The TeamCenter platform will now execute multi-site synchronization across the globe that is 10X faster using patented new technology. Their NX design platform now loads multi-part assemblies faster, enabling shorter design review cycles, also integrating electrical and electronic domain design. By offering a single integrated solution from design to manufacturing, NX reduced bottlenecks from data translation across multiple systems.
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