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Digitalisation of motor plant boosts throughput by 40%

16 June, 2017

Siemens is using one of its German factories that produces electric motors as a testbed and showcase and for the “digitalisation” of manufacturing and has already cut throughput times by 40%. It has also reduced correction loops by 50% at the plant in Bad Neustadt an der Saale, and improved ramp-up times for new machines by 60%.

Siemens has been producing industrial motors at the site for 80 years. It is currently modifying and upgrading its production processes using some of the latest technologies.

“Digitalisation of the processes in the plant is a process of continuous development,” explains the man in charge, Peter Deml. “Initially, we focused on using digitalisation to create consistency throughout the CAD-CAM/CNC chain, including tool and NC program management. Systems that had previously functioned separately were synchronised and fitted with digital interfaces. In addition, we implemented new tools, optimised our NC programs and made various design adjustments.”

Siemens is using the plant as a showcase for digitalisation technologies, and has opened an 800m2 “Arena of Digitalisation” at the site where visitors can see how it is implementing the new technologies and the results it is achieving.

“Frequent innovations, individually tailored products, and the resulting high degree of product diversity – these are the challenges which the production process at the electric motor plant in Bad Neustadt has to rise to today,” comments Wolfgang Heuring, CEO of Siemens’ motion control business. “Digitalisation is helping us to tackle these challenges successfully.

Siemens' Arena of Digitalisation will show visitors how it is using digitalisation to produce electric motors

“We plan to use the Arena of Digitalisation and the example of our own manufacturing to demonstrate to our customers – machine-builders as well as machine-operators – the advantages that using Siemens digitalisation technologies provides.

“Digitalisation solutions will also help us considerably in continuing to maintain a leading position among our global competitors in future and, last but not least, to secure jobs,” Heuring adds.




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