At IMTS 2024, the IMTS+ Main Stage featured a forward-thinking conversation between Barbara Humpton, CEO of Siemens USA, and Tim Shinbara, chief strategy officer at BlueForge Alliance. Their discussion, now available at IMTS.com/democratization, highlighted the technological advancements shaping the future and the profound shift happening in how technology empowers manufacturers of all sizes.
[At IMTS 2024, Siemens exhibited in booths #133249 and #236217. BlueForge Alliance was featured in the AMT Emerging Technology Center (booth #236700) showing the collaborative collective advancements in naval capabilities.]
The Power of Technology for All “Siemens builds technology that forms the backbone of the economy,” Humpton explained.
And while Siemens has been at the forefront for over 170 years, the true hallmark of their leadership is their relentless commitment to making cutting-edge technology accessible to all.
Today, Siemens revolutionizes manufacturing with their advanced software, automation tools, and digital twin solutions. These innovations don’t just connect machines—they fuse the physical and digital production environments, giving manufacturers unprecedented control and insight. But perhaps most exciting is the company’s focus on the democratization of these tools, enabling even small and medium-sized businesses to harness the power of digital transformation.
A Vision for a Distributed, Local Manufacturing Future Siemens' mission, which began with a bold recognition of software's transformative potential in 2007, has never been clearer. The integration of digital twins — precise digital representations of products or processes — allows manufacturers to bring production closer to their customers. What was once limited to large-scale facilities is now available to smaller enterprises, promoting agile, local manufacturing. This shift is about more than just efficiency; it’s about empowerment. Siemens envisions a manufacturing landscape where smaller manufacturers can be nimble drivers of growth, fueling local economies and strengthening domestic supply chains.
Automation and AI: Enabling, Not Replacing Workers A cornerstone of Siemens’ strategy is automation, with tools like their Virtual PLC and the SINUMERIK ONE platform offering unprecedented flexibility. These innovations aren’t designed to replace human workers but to augment them — enabling a seamless, centralized control over any hardware. This, Humpton emphasizes, is the key to future success: empowering workers with intuitive technology that amplifies their skills and drives greater productivity.
AI, too, plays a pivotal role. Siemens is developing AI tools to act as "industrial co-pilots," tapping into vast data resources to extract insights that were previously unreachable. These intelligent systems work alongside human expertise, guiding decisions with precision and speed—helping manufacturers stay competitive in a fast-evolving landscape.
Cybersecurity: Enhanced Protection in a Connected World As manufacturers become more digitally connected, increased digital connectivity can accelerate threat detection. This proactive defense ensures that manufacturers can embrace digital transformation with confidence, knowing their systems are more secure than ever before.
The Industrial Metaverse: Merging Digital and Physical Realms One of the most exciting frontiers Siemens is exploring is the Industrial Metaverse. Far from replacing real-world operations, the metaverse enhances them. Siemens’ collaboration with NVIDIA demonstrates the power of this virtual workspace. In designing a virtual factory line for BMW’s electric vehicle production plant, the industrial metaverse facilitated seamless collaboration, reducing errors, speeding up innovation, and lowering costs — all without the need for in-person interaction. This is the future of risk-free, high-precision design.
Attracting the Next Generation of Talent As cutting-edge as these technologies are, Siemens recognizes that their success depends on people. With an aging workforce, the challenge is to attract young, tech-savvy talent into the industry. By positioning manufacturing as a dynamic, impactful career path, Siemens is working to inspire the next generation to embrace a sector that is increasingly driven by software, automation, and AI.
When we combine the deep expertise of seasoned professionals with the digital fluency of younger workers, the manufacturing technology industry will continue to bolster our economic growth with an impactful and vibrant intergenerational workforce.
Sustainability: Building a Greener Future Sustainability is another pillar of Siemens' vision. The company is committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, with 90% of its current portfolio already aligned with this goal. Their technology, including digital twins and blockchain, enables manufacturers to design with sustainability in mind. Decisions made early in the design phase—where 80% of a product’s environmental impact is determined—can now be guided by data-driven insights, optimizing the entire supply chain for greener, more responsible production.
Shaping the Future Together “The work you are all doing is transforming the way we live,” Humpton declared to the IMTS audience, closing the conversation on a note of optimism. “I want to invent the future with you!” Siemens is leading a charge toward a future where technology empowers, sustainability thrives, and manufacturing is reimagined for the betterment of businesses and communities alike.
AMT invites you to join us on this journey to help us bring this future to reality. If interested in advancing your manufacturing capabilities, we highly recommend the full talk and all the other amazing presentations from IMTS 2024!
