Advanced machine engineering digital thread

Build smart machines with advanced machine engineering

Today’s machine builders are challenged to produce highly tailored, smart machines within a short timeline. Advanced machine engineering solutions from Siemens leverage next-generation design software, a digital twin for machine design and integrated digital tools to ensure the effective delivery of projects on time.

10%

Shorter design phase

Accelerate time-to-market with collaborative design to connect domains at any time, from anywhere.

15%

More productive machines

Leverage simulation early in the design process to design and build machines with higher outputs while simultaneously reducing noise, vibration and energy consumption.

20%

Faster product technical information retrieval time

Manage and share product information in a single location that supports searching and browsing to reduce time spent on CAD data management.

Improve your machine design process

Gain greater certainty in the development of next-generation machines. Advanced machine engineering accelerates the design process and certifies machine performance by leveraging the digital twin for design, development and commissioning.

Intelligent machine design

Modular machine engineering

Multi-stage machine validation

Transform your engineering workflows by connecting all disciplines in one unified platform, enabling teams to quickly adapt product offerings based on changing market demands. Use integrated development and lifecycle management tools to optimize costs, expand your product portfolio and accelerate time-to-market while maintaining superior quality standards.

Integrate project management and requirements management with design
Align on-location and remote workers in a collaborative environment
Ensure all team members have access to the information needed to do their jobs

Automate manual machine design and configuration processes by adopting a modular approach to design. Use standardized libraries of proven design configurations to maximize design reuse and improve the speed and quality of machine delivery.

Manage configurable machine families that easily adapt to consumer-driven customization
Support faster bid response and order delivery
Confirm that machine designs deliver against customer requirements and industry regulations without the need for physical testing

Use a comprehensive digital twin to validate machine functions and controls virtually before building physical prototypes. Enable virtual commissioning for closed-loop, continuous operational feedback throughout the entire development lifecycle to enhance productivity, flexibility and innovation.

Identify and solve issues early in development
Maximize equipment effectiveness with predictive maintenance and performance insights
Drive innovation and improve quality while accelerating project delivery

Advanced machine engineering solutions

Product lifecycle management

Manage the digital twin from a single source of truth that connects diverse product data sources with a digital thread backbone. Ensure streamlined collaboration across multi-disciplinary teams throughout the product lifecycle.

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Mechanical product design

Achieve collaborative design and enable simultaneous designs across global teams. Empower teams to work faster and more efficiently to shorten time-to-market.

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Machine automation engineering

Leverage a holistic automation engineering approach enabled by the convergence of automation and digitalization. With this approach, production machine builders can seamlessly connect OT and IT teams, processes, systems and data.

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Performance engineering

Leverage a simulation and testing solution that empowers you to design and engineer better products, gain earlier insights, confidently predict performance and boost productivity.

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Industrial systems simulation

Develop and deliver or optimize industrial systems that are highly flexible and modular to meet the increasing demand for customized products and services.

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E/E systems development

Break down complexity and develop robust and competitive E/E systems to create a backbone for more efficient, reliable and functional products.

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Frequently asked questions

How can advanced machine engineering improve the manufacturing process?

Advanced machine engineering equips businesses with next-generation design tools, a closed-loop digital twin and integrated project delivery solutions. Through these three focus areas, firms can eliminate silos, validate sooner and deliver more orders than before.

What challenges do machine builders face when adopting advanced machine engineering solutions?

Machine builders adopting advanced machine engineering solutions may face key challenges:

Managing complex modular design requirements
Ensuring seamless cross-domain integration
Maintaining consistent standards across different machine variants
Creating flexible automation architectures that can adapt to diverse customer specifications while keeping development costs in check

The integration of robotics and AI capabilities further complicates machine design and programming workflows. Documentation and version control also become increasingly complex when dealing with numerous machine configurations and custom modifications. Machine builders must maintain hardware compatibility across platforms, implement standardized programming interfaces and ensure their machines meet various regional compliance standards.

How is advanced machine engineering shaping industry 4.0?

Advanced machine engineering is shaping industry 4.0 by helping more businesses digitally transform. Technological tools that connect data, depict visualizations and deliver products faster are necessary for surviving in today’s competitive landscape.

What core technologies are being used to innovate smart machine design and performance?

Advanced machine engineering combines several key technologies to transform smart machine design and performance. The digital twin creates virtual representations for simulation and validation, while multidisciplinary engineering tools unify mechanical, electrical, electronic, software and automation designs in an integrated workspace.

Mechatronic system simulation enables multi-domain testing and optimization, supported by advanced motion control algorithms and real-time simulation. Cloud computing and the industrial internet of things (IIoT) facilitate data collection and analysis, while AI and machine learning improve operational performance. These technologies are woven together through the digital thread — creating a seamless flow of information from design to operation — ultimately reducing time-to-market and improving machine performance.

How does advanced machine engineering solutions support sustainable manufacturing?

With advanced machine engineering’s simulation capabilities, businesses can visualize a machine’s energy use and scrap output in the digital twin. In turn, designers can fine-tune a machine before it’s produced, helping to sustainably optimize its design.