Siemens Healthineers Transforms Manufacturing with Microsoft Azure
Siemens Healthineers has built the High Energy Photonics Center in Forchheim, Germany, leveraging Microsoft technology to optimize development and manufacturing. The company’s first fully digitized factory connects people, machines, and knowledge using Azure cloud services, Microsoft 365, and AI.
The Challenge: Complex Manufacturing Processes
Siemens Healthineers produces X-ray tubes, generators, and control elements for imaging systems. The manufacturing process is complex, involving multiple steps and areas, including logistics, clean rooms for vacuum component manufacturing, assembly lines, and rigorous testing.
“A reliable and networked manufacturing environment is fundamental to meet the high demands of the medical sector,” says Peter Schardt, CTO of Siemens Healthineers. The company faced challenges in coordinating production lines and process steps due to physical space limitations and the need for real-time data analysis.
The Solution: Automation and Digital Connectivity
The High Energy Photonics Center spans 69,000 m2 and employs 800 people. It utilizes cutting-edge cloud technology to connect machines, people, and knowledge. Azure and IoT technologies integrate the production environment, increasing process efficiency and enabling informed decisions.
Digital twins, or virtual models of production facilities, are used for simulations to optimize processes and predict potential issues. “This means we’ve introduced predictive maintenance not only for our products in the field but also in our factory,” explains Jens Fürst, Principal Key Expert Digitalization & Automation.
AI applications, developed using Azure Machine Learning and Azure AI Studio, analyze data to detect anomalies in production lines. “With the help of machine learning, we’ve developed AI applications for the HEP that allow us to analyze huge amounts of data and detect anomalies within our production lines,” says Markus Kaupper, Head of Digitalization for the HEP Center.
Microsoft Teams serves as a central collaboration platform between the shop floor and offices, improving decision-making and process efficiency. The integration of Azure DevOps and Microsoft Teams enables rapid response to changing requirements and fosters a culture of experimentation.
Connected Expertise with Azure OpenAI Service
The implementation of large language models with Azure OpenAI Service facilitates access to stored knowledge, making complex information easier to understand. “Azure OpenAI Services creates dialogue-oriented access to knowledge that helps employees make informed decisions faster,” Kaupper explains.
The High Energy Photonics Center is a central element in Siemens Healthineers’ smart factory network, reducing disruptions and production costs while enhancing collaboration and knowledge sharing. “We’re experiencing the digital transformation as a journey of discovery, on which Microsoft is supporting us with its extensive technology portfolio and pioneering concepts,” Fürst says.
