The automotive industry is undergoing a major transformation. Automakers face pressure from changing consumer demands, the shift to electric and hybrid vehicles, supply chain issues, and the need to use resources efficiently. Many manufacturers are turning to smart manufacturing strategies to address these challenges.
Nand Kochhar and Reinhold Niesing from Siemens Digital Industry Software recently discussed the role of digital thread and digital twin technologies in improving operational efficiencies. The market is moving towards electrification, including battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and vehicles using alternative fuels like hydrogen. This shift requires agility and adaptability from manufacturers to respond to changing consumer demand, environmental factors, and global trends.
It also impacts product development, manufacturing, and the supply chain, which need significant investments and long lead times. Another key factor is the workforce. The industry needs to attract new talent with the right skills and retrain existing workers to meet evolving needs.
Future manufacturing systems should be agile and able to adapt to different scenarios. Digitalization goes beyond product design to the shop floor. Integrating IT and OT creates an end-to-end solution that covers the digital thread, making manufacturing more flexible and responsive.
Edge-based systems connect the shop floor more closely with IT, allowing for adaptable deployment strategies.
Digital twins in smart manufacturing
Digital twin technologies are crucial.
They enable a closed-loop process that continuously improves production quality. Data from digital twins feeds back into manufacturing and product development, allowing for iterative improvements. AI technologies also play a significant role in connecting edge devices and building on existing quality systems to benefit customers.
The goal is to create an agile manufacturing system that can be continuously updated and improved, similar to how modern cars receive system and software updates. This ensures that manufacturing systems are not static but can adapt to new requirements and challenges. Siemens offers a comprehensive approach tailored to automotive workflows that accelerates digitalization.
They provide a blueprint for smart manufacturing through the digital thread concept, which helps manufacturers achieve consistent and impactful digitalization. The digital thread represents customer processes and can be customized for specific scenarios. By leveraging experience with various customers, Siemens integrates real-time data from the shop floor into the digital world via the digital twin.
This approach enables continuous improvement and growth, starting with small successes that demonstrate tangible business results. At Ford, the digital transformation effort led to the introduction of the Siemens Simatic Automation Workstation in April, co-developed with Ford. This initiative shows the practical application of digitalization strategies in creating adaptable and efficient manufacturing systems.
Digital thread and digital twin technologies play a pivotal role in transforming automotive manufacturing, addressing current challenges, and paving the way towards a more agile, efficient, and sustainable industry.
