Industrial automation specialists Schaeffler and Siemens have added industrial AI to their long-running collaboration. The companies have signed an MoU to jointly develop AI and software for shop floor applications in manufacturing.

An AI assistant “Siemens Industrial Copilot” developed by both companies has proved successful in test operation.

The Siemens Industrial Copilot is an industrial automation solution using AI. The AI assistant is designed to simplify work for shop floor employees with complex automation codes for the machine generated with natural speech. Jointly developed by Schaeffler and Siemens, the assistant tackles tasks such as creating complex programming codes for manufacturing processes. The assistant can also provide relevant documentation, guidelines, and manuals to help employees identify potential causes of errors.

“Digitalisation is one of Schaeffler’s key topics,” said Klaus Rosenfeld, CEO of Schaeffler AG. “The use of AI-based solutions is a decisive factor for making production processes more innovative, agile, and efficient. With Siemens, Schaeffler has a strong industrial partner at its side to accelerate the development and implementation of generative AI solutions in a targeted manner and to generate added value for its customers.”

“Siemens and Schaeffler are pioneers on the path to highly-automated and digital factories. With the ‘Siemens Industrial Copilot’, we are bringing the capabilities of generative AI to the Schaeffler shop floor,” said Cedrik Neike, Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG and CEO Digital Industries. “Together, we are showing how artificial intelligence is revolutionising production– from the generation of machine code to AI-based maintenance. And that is just the beginning.“

Schaeffler is already using a large number of AI solutions in various applications. The “Siemens Industrial Copilot” is operating in pilot mode on a robot cell from Schaeffler Special Machinery, the Schaeffler Group’s special machine construction unit.

Andreas Schick, Chief Operating Officer of Schaeffler AG, said: “We are now at the start of a decade of efficiency at Schaeffler. The ‘Siemens Industrial Copilot’ proves that artificial intelligence can already be used in production today. With the Copilot, we are providing our experts on the shop floor with an innovative digital tool, which simplifies their work and significantly increases their efficiency. We are taking production to a new, digital level in collaboration with Siemens.”