Siemens 2013 Annual Report Download - page 54

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“ As researchers, we always have
to think ahead.”
Professor Berend Denkena is head of the Institute of Produc-
tion Engineering and Machine Tools at Leibniz University in
Hanover and one of Germany ’s leading specialists in the field
of production process and machine tool development.
Professor Denkena, what’s the connection between your
institute’s work and Siemens ?
Professor Denkena : I’m very familiar with Siemens from my previous work in
industry. We cooperate with your company very closely. For example, virtu-
ally all the controls and drives used in our machine tools come from Siemens.
Our re search and teaching focus on production process and machine tool
development. In this field, there are many connections to Siemens. In the
area of simulation, for example, our work is guided by similar concerns. In the
area of machine tool programming, there are interfaces with Siemens’ prod-
uct lifecycle management software. As researchers, we develop innovative
solutions whose implementation may be several years down the road. That is,
we think a little ahead.
Enhancing industrial productivity
Creating efficient solutions
52
Industry 4.0
On the road to the
Fourth Industrial Revolution
From Industry 1.0 to Industry 4.0
It sounds like something out of science fiction: communities of
machines organize themselves, supply chains automatically coop-
erate with one another, and unfinished products send the data
needed for their processing to the machines that will turn them
into merchandise. These are the developments that will character-
ize the production environment of tomorrow. Many observers are
proclaiming the advent of a fourth industrial revolution: Industry
4.0. The first revolution was triggered by mechanical systems and
drives (the power loom and steam engine). The second involved
the division of labor and mass production techniques. And the
third was ushered in by electronic systems and computer technol-
ogies for automating manufacturing processes.
In the world of Industry 4.0, software will network all the steps
required for a product’s development, manufacturing and mainte-
nance. Products and machines will communicate with one another
and exchange commands. The factories of the future will optimize
and control their manufacturing processes largely by themselves,
although in accordance with parameters defined by humans – thus
increasing industrial productivity. With our unparalleled range of
offerings for leading-edge industrial production, we’ll play a key
role in shaping this transformation.
based on mechanical production
equipment driven by water and
steam power
17841. 0
based on the use of
electronics and IT to further
automate production
1969 3.0
based on the use
of cyber-physical
systems
tomorrow 4.0
based on mass production
enabled by the division of labor
and the use of electrical energy
1870 2 . 0