Siemens and AWS simplify deployment of IIoT applications

Simplify machine experiences from the edge to the cloud to help increase production efficiency and monitor assets based on historical and real-time data. This is the goal of the new AWS IoT SiteWise Edge application, the result of a partnership between Siemens and Amazon Web Services (AWS) that aims to accelerate the creation and deployment of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) applications at scale and that work seamlessly at the edge and in the cloud.

By bringing data collection and processing closer to machines and helping to route data to the cloud under various industrial protocols, AWS IoT SiteWise Edge aims to help organize and analyze IIoT data at scale and thus contribute to better data-driven decisions.

Available on the Siemens Industrial Edge Marketplace, AWS IoT SiteWise Edge can be deployed on the Siemens Industrial Edge platform and combined with various other applications and edge devices, both from Siemens and other suppliers, to form an IIoT solution. AWS IoT SiteWise Edge is also part of the AWS IIoT services portfolio and can collect, process and monitor equipment data even without an Internet connection.

The Siemens Industrial Edge open platform was launched in 2018 and expanded in 2021 with the Industrial Edge Marketplace, an independent multi-vendor application store where industrial customers can buy applications from different IoT solution providers.

“The arrival of AWS IoT SiteWise Edge in our Industrial Edge Marketplace will generate new opportunities to deploy edge and cloud applications at scale and manage closed-loop automation workflows. Our customers are always facing new challenges to raise levels of productivity, flexibility and sustainability in production processes. To help them, Siemens is expanding its traditional OT portfolio by integrating IT and software capabilities into automation,” explains Rainer Brehm, CEO of Siemens Factory Automation.

Process engineers and maintenance technicians can use AWS IoT SiteWise Edge, for example, to extract data from industrial equipment and use it in local and cloud applications or in inference engines, to perform asset monitoring, predictive maintenance, quality inspection, KPI calculations and energy consumption analysis.

Today, the majority (74%) of IoT projects remain isolated and face a long time to deploy at scale or do not achieve the expected return on investment (ROI) due to a heterogeneous OT (Operational Technology) and IT (Information Technology) landscape. The unintended consequence is data that is difficult to access and use, as it is restricted to a few machines or part of the factory floor. According to Siemens, with AWS IoT SiteWise Edge, it will be possible to create a secure and flexible infrastructure from edge to cloud, capable of delivering data where it is needed and running hybrid workflows, simplifying IT/OT convergence.

AWS IoT SiteWise Edge offers multiple options for industrial connectivity, storage, data management, security, analysis and visualization at the edge and in the cloud. It is available in the following regions: Western United States (Oregon), Eastern United States (Northern Virginia and Ohio), Canada (Central), Europe (Ireland and Frankfurt), Asia-Pacific (Sydney, Singapore, Mumbai, Seoul and Tokyo).

Reasons to adopt IIoT

A recent survey carried out by ABB revealed, among other things, the reasons why companies are adopting Industrial Internet of Things solutions. The data suggests that the main objective is to reduce the downtime of operational equipment and generate costs and efficiency.

However, the study predicts that as organizations advance in terms of digital maturity, they will seek other benefits, such as better visibility of operations and meeting sustainability targets by reducing energy consumption. The cumulative effect of these advantages should generate deeper positive impacts on profitability and competitive advantage in the medium and long term.

Using IoT to have a high level of control is at the top of the list of implementation focus areas. Electrical systems come second on the list of functional priorities, followed by safety, which can be seen as both a business responsibility and an opportunity to improve productivity and employee satisfaction.