Siemens partners with Google Cloud for AI technology in manufacturing

Munich headquartered industrial manufacturing company Siemens has announced a partnership with Google Cloud to optimise factory processes and improve productivity. 

As part of the partnership, Siemens will integrate Google Cloud’s data cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies with its factory automation solutions for manufacturers, a statement said. 

Manufacturers will be able to run cloud-based AI/ML on top of their factory data, for applications such as visual inspection or products, or to predict the wear and tear of machines on the assembly line.   

“The potential for AI to radically transform the plant floor is far from being exhausted. Many manufacturers are still stuck in AI ‘pilot projects’ today - we want to change that,” Axel Lorenz, vice president of control at factory automation of Siemens Digital Industries, said in the statement.  

“Combining AI/ML technology from Google Cloud with Siemens’ solutions for industrial edge and industrial operation will be a game changer for the manufacturing industry,” he added. 

Siemens' Digital Industries (DI) provides customers with products, solutions and services for digital transformation, specific to the industry.  

The partnership with Google Cloud will also enable easier implementation of AI in connection with industrial edge and automate mundane tasks. 

“Siemens is a leader in advancing industrial automation and software and Google Cloud is a leader in data analytics and AI/ML. This cooperation will combine best of the both worlds and bring AI/Ml to the manufacturing industry at scale,” Dominik Wee, managing director manufacturing and industrial at Google Cloud, said in the statement. 

Google Cloud in March announced a partnership with robotic process automation (RPA) solutions provider Automation Anywhere to enable enterprises to increase their rate of automation.  

It also announced a partnership with Fractal Analytics for advanced cloud analytics and AI services.