Schaeffler Partners With IBM to Drive Business Model via Watson's Cognitive Intelligence

ARMONK, NY: Schaeffler, an automotive and industrial supplier, signs a multi-year strategic partnership agreement with IBM to accelerate the digital transformation of the company using Watson's cognitive intelligence. In this project, Schaeffler is applying the latest design thinking and agile methodologies to drive business model innovation and achieve operational excellence.

The initiative involves an intense research and development of mechatronic products with embedded sensors, actuators, control units and software capable of collecting and processing valuable data about the condition of both the part and the machine. The virtual models built, represents the industrial systems capability towards product design, manufacturing and after sales service. This enables Schaeffler to analyze huge amounts of data from millions of sensors and devices across its operations, providinginsight to help it to be more flexible, make faster decisions and optimize the performance of equipment in the field.

IBM's cloud-based Watson IoT technologies transform every aspect of Schaeffler’s business from product development, to manufacturing and its supply chain, sales and after sales service. It optimizes maintenance in the wind energy sector and digitizes monitoring and optimization of trains. The transformation will also help the company to stay connected to their Equipment Operations Center and all the vehicles while the cognitive technologies will support Schaeffler's Industry 4.0 strategy for tooling machines helping to improve overall equipment efficiency.

"Our goal is to be the world's leading manufacturer of cognitive solutions which keep the world moving," says Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Gutzmer, Deputy CEO and Chief Technology Officer, Schaeffler. "We are entering an age where parts can monitor and evaluate their own performance and even order their own replacement when necessary. Schaeffler is a world leader in product development and manufacturing, IBM in hybrid cloud and cognitive computing; through this partnership we are ushering the new industrial era."