Managing Automation - October 2008 - (Page 26)

“We think we have all of the ingredients to [deliver the digital factory] to the industry the fastest,” says Anton Huber, CEO of Siemens Industry Automation Division all the pieces it needed to controllers into the digital factory concept. But nect the digital factory dots. what does that mean for a factory floor with a “We think we have all of mix of Siemens, Rockwell, Schneider Electhe ingredients to [deliver] tric, or GE Fanuc controllers? this to the industr y the No problem, Siemens says. “The objective is fastest,” Huber says. “And the to keep all of the products open,” says Chuck competition will follow.” Grindstaff, executive vice president of prodTo some extent, he is being ucts for Siemens PLM Software. “There is no proven right. The first sign push to be proprietary in connection points.” came in December 2007, But will the experience be the same? when Rockwell Automation “They assured me they will have connecand Delmia, a division of Dastions and interfaces to other controllers,” says sault Systèmes, outlined a Jim Caie, vice president of consulting at ARC technology partnership based Advisory Group. “But they won’t be as tightly on an object-oriented database integrated.” that provides a bidirectional What the actual extent of integration turns information exchange beout to be is difficult to assess at this time, Caie tween a digital design and the says, because Siemens has only outlined a control architecture. Both strategy to do this. Siemens describes that Rockwell and Dassault have strategy, dubbed Project Archimedes, as an said the relationship is not exintegration vehicle designed to move the UGS clusive and they will seek out and Siemens technology communities together similar partnerships. under a common vision of uniting PLM, auThe non-exclusivity that Rockwell touts is tomation systems, and motion control. But to much different from Siemens’ approach, which date, no specific digital factory products that diis centered on a tightly integrated turnkey rectly relate to the vision have been unveiled. plan. It’s an approach that could either propel “I’m having a tough time gauging how much Siemens into the spotlight as the premier digprogress they’ve really made,” Caie says. “They ital factory provider or limit it to new deploylaid out a roadmap, but the hardest thing to do ments amenable to a soup-to-nuts solution. is integrate the mechanical worlds and the It’s not clear at this point whether Siemens’ electrical world together into one model and acquisition of UGS was ingeniously daring one database. That’s where it’s at, and while I and deserving of kudos for its pioneering efsee the Rockwell and Delmia relationship adfort or a radical risk that could prove to be a dressing that directly, I see Siemens looking at costly mistake in judgment. The fact is, no Teamcenter [its PLM product] and trying to inother automation vendor has followed in tegrate a lot of information together. Siemens Siemens’ footsteps and acquired a PLM company. But “The objective is to keep all of the observers say that may not products open. There is no push to necessarily indicate it’s the be proprietary in connection points.” wrong approach; rather, it could directly relate to mon— Chuck Grindstaff, Siemens ey and market opportunity. “Most automation companies are not in a is focusing more on PLM so that they can get financial position as strong as Siemens to do more unique applications to use their technolthis,” says Joe Barkai, practice director of prodogy. I’m not saying it’s a bad strategy, but uct lifecycle strategies at IDC Manufacturing there’s a difference.” Insights, a research firm. And even if they Yet, Caie says Siemens has taken a conserhave the money, “the immediate question is, vative approach to disclosing details of prodwho would they acquire? There are not many ucts that are not ready for prime time. It’s a PLM companies left,” he says. company that does not pre-announce, he says. That gives Siemens a tremendous advanIn fact, Siemens did roll out something tage if indeed it made the right decision to acsignificant in April. At the Hannover Fair in quire UGS rather than simply forge PLM Germany, the company announced its patentpartnerships. Still, there is a technology issue pending “synchronous technology,” a featureon the table. Specifically, most manufacturbased modeling technology that lets a user ers have a plethora of PLCs from a variety of change a 3D design without necessarily unvendors. The Siemens PLM approach will derstanding how it was created. Models can tightly integrate and fine-tune Siemens conbe defined — or redefined — on the fly, and [ SPECIAL REPORT ] ma October 26 2008 Photos courtesy: Siemens

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Managing Automation - October 2008

Managing Automation - October 2008 Contents Take 1 Systems Integration Market Braces for a Wave of Consolidation Kinaxis Launches Program to Lure i2 Customers Patent May Give Mobility a Needed Shot in the Arm New Group Aims at More Efficient Smart Devices Solar, Life Sciences Will Be the Next Frontier For Robots Notes Cover Story:�2009 Companies to Watch Special Report:�Siemens plus UGS: Is the Merger Working? Transformation:�Driving Energy Efficiency Integration: How Clean is Your Data Industries:�Fed Raises Red Flag on Chemicals Product Scan Advertiser Index Next

Managing Automation - October 2008

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