NEC and Siemens join forces to accelerate smart factory innovation
In a significant collaboration, NEC Corporation and Siemens Industry Software Inc. have joined hands to revolutionize the manufacturing industry through automated robot teaching. This partnership aims to drive digital transformation (DX) in manufacturing, leveraging advanced technologies to optimize worksite operations and boost productivity.
NEC’s digital twin solution, integrated into their ‘BluStellar’ value creation model, empowers manufacturing customers to transition to fact-driven management. Siemens, a leading technology company, promotes digital enterprises and provides software solutions for rapid value creation globally.
The collaboration focuses on developing a robot teaching automation solution. By combining NEC’s ‘NEC Robot Task Planning’ digital twin service with Siemens’ ‘Process Simulate’ 3D robot simulation software, the companies aim to streamline the complex process of robot motion planning. Traditionally, skilled engineers manually create plans for coordinating multiple robots, a time-consuming and costly process.
NEC’s software utilizes an AI-driven proprietary algorithm to optimize robot coordination and automatically generate motion plans. Siemens’ Process Simulate, a globally recognized 3D robot simulator, enables virtual teaching without disrupting production. The seamless integration of NEC Robot Task Planning into Process Simulate’s user interface allows users to create robot motion plans with a single click, significantly reducing teaching workload.
This collaboration offers several benefits, including shorter production line setup periods, optimized cycle times, and fact-driven management. It also facilitates the sharing and transfer of operational know-how, often dependent on individual expertise. By combining their strengths, NEC and Siemens aim to accelerate the deployment of this solution globally, enhancing productivity and competitiveness for their customers.
NEC’s Kosuke Hidashima highlights the collaboration’s potential, emphasizing the integration of AI-driven digitization, analysis, and simulation in digital spaces. Siemens’ Kunihiko Horita praises the partnership, showcasing how digital twin technology and AI accelerate robot teaching and productivity. This collaboration exemplifies how NEC and Siemens are driving innovation in the DX era, offering smarter and more resilient manufacturing solutions worldwide.