Aiming to speed up transformation in Japanese manufacturing by linking data across the entire product lifecycle - Collaboration begins with Siemens, a global leader in the implementation of cloud-based PLM (Teamcenter X) and manufacturing execution systems (Opcenter) -

Macnica (headquarters: Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture; Representative Director and President: Kazumasa Hara; hereinafter "Macnica) and Siemens K.K. (headquarters: Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo; Representative Director and President and CEO: Kunihiko Hotta; hereinafter "Siemens") announced today that they have agreed to enter into a business alliance and will begin collaborating to promote digital transformation in the manufacturing industry by implementing Siemens Xcelerator platform solutions, including cloud-based PLM (Teamcenter X) and manufacturing execution system (Opcenter), to achieve digital transformation in the domestic manufacturing industry.

■ The challenge for transformation of Japan's manufacturing industry after the "lost 30 years" is decision-making that links the entire manufacturing process and product lifecycle
In the past, Japan's manufacturing industry boasted high competitiveness thanks to its advanced technological capabilities and quality, as well as the highly skilled and motivated workers. However, in today's world of irreversible technology and the acceleration of innovation, changing customer expectations, and increasing uncertainty, business processes honed through partial optimization and personalized knowledge are becoming a burden, preventing companies from quickly adapting to change, and many companies are struggling to maintain their competitiveness.
To address these challenges, it is essential for companies to regain their footing over the next 30 years by enabling data integration across the entire organization, removing the barriers between different departments and operations, sharing data in real time from management to the production floor, and improving the speed of decision-making.
Furthermore, in order to address the worsening labor shortage issue and achieve innovation, it will also be necessary to standardize business processes, utilize best practices from overseas, and focus on areas that directly relate to customer satisfaction and competitiveness.

■There is no true DX without data integration. Promote self-driving DX with tools to develop DX talent across the company
For half a century since its founding, Macnica has supported Japanese manufacturing customers in mastering the most advanced technologies from around the world. Since Germany's first Inustrie 4.0 made an impact on the manufacturing industry over a decade ago, the company has provided support for approximately 350 cases of smart manufacturing in the digital transformation field.
From our experience supporting transformation with our customers, we have concluded that in order to carry out fundamental reforms, data integration throughout the entire product lifecycle and business processes that utilize that data are essential.
Macnica turned its attention to using cloud-based PLM (Siemens Teamcenter®). In recent years, the use of PLM itself has been attracting attention as a fundamental measure for DX, but the actual consideration, construction, implementation, and operation of the system require the preparation of appropriate human resources and resources, and there were certain hurdles to its introduction.
To enable more companies to master PLM and improve efficiency, quality, competitiveness, and customer satisfaction throughout the entire product lifecycle, Teamcenter X offers cloud-based flexibility, scalability and extensibility, real-time collaboration, security and data management. In addition, the use of a variety of templates backed by best practices tailored to specific industries and business types that Siemens has researched and practiced over many years can lower the hurdles of implementation costs and time, which will be an effective measure for successful DX.

■ Achieving both Fit to Standard and unique value by combining with MENDIX, a low-code platform that enables the integration of various systems and the quick implementation and continuous improvement of unique functions necessary for competitiveness
Combining Mendix™, a low-code platform that Macnica uses to loosely couple its own IT and provide the latest SaaS services in a fit-to-standard manner, and Teamcenter X as a platform for satisfying its own unique requirements and providing customer services, makes it possible to implement Siemens' best practices, competitive areas and unique functions that cannot be standardized, and to provide continuous updates. This makes it possible to lower the barrier to implementation, particularly in the medium-volume production market, where complex variations of options are provided to meet end-user needs such as production equipment, long-term maintenance parts are provided, and modifications are made to improve performance, where it has been difficult to implement IT systems such as PLM in a fit-to-standard manner until now.

■ Total support in the areas of MES to realize the link between design and manufacturing, and software and hardware to realize CPS
In order to connect the entire manufacturing process and realize a digital twin that links the cyber and physical domains, support in the MES area that connects design and manufacturing, and support not only in the software but also in the hardware that runs it, are essential. In addition to its track record of supporting the introduction and implementation of MES, mainly Opcenter™ provided by Siemens, Macnica, as a top player in Japan, can combine its strengths in providing and technical support for the latest components such as semiconductors, sensing devices, and GPUs, to implement a combination of various elements to realize a CPS.

■ Details of the business alliance: Realizing business model transformation together with Siemens, a global leader
Siemens Digital Industries Software supports companies in their digital transformation through software, hardware and services. By leveraging Siemens' comprehensive digital twin, companies can optimize their design, engineering and manufacturing processes to turn today's ideas into sustainable products.

<Details of the partnership>
・Consulting services
・Set goals and identify issues
・Fit & Gap analysis and To Be model consideration
・Project planning support
・System integration services
・OOTB implementation and environment construction
・TCX implementation and initial operation check
・Support for migrating existing data (migration tool development: Option)
・Operation support services
・System promotion support and training

■Kunihiko Hotta Representative Director and President and CEO of Siemens K.K., said the following:
"the Company believe that our collaboration with Macnica, a leader in hardware, software and technology solutions in Japan, will contribute to the success of our customers in the Japanese manufacturing industry.
To achieve digital transformation, it is essential to have a partner that can support our customers' transformation in every aspect, including design and manufacturing, software and hardware, cutting-edge IT and on-site business processes.
In addition, Macnica believes that its connections with a wide range of manufacturing industries, including manufacturing equipment, electronic and electrical equipment, medical equipment, and semiconductor production equipment, which it has built up over the past half century as a partner, and its knowledge of business processes, will serve as a driving force for swift and powerful transformation of our customers' business models.
We want to support innovation in the manufacturing industry, which plays an important role in the Japanese economy, and contribute to sustainable development."

About Macnica 's Smart Manufacturing Business
Macnica supports the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry, drawing on the technical capabilities it has cultivated as a semiconductor trading company and its experience in implementing cutting-edge technologies such as AI and IoT. It will accompany you in formulating a workable roadmap based on global best practices, implementing quick experiences that value changes in the minds and behavior of those involved, and operating to achieve your goals. As digital transformation accelerates, security issues also arise at the same time. Macnica is also introducing the world's most advanced security technology to Japan. Macnica will work closely with the concerns of Japan's manufacturing industry, which is facing a mountain of unique challenges, to discover the issues together and promote digital transformation, thereby creating new business opportunities and contributing to the development of society.
For more details, please visit: https://www.macnica.co.jp/business/ai_iot/

[For inquiries regarding this matter, please contact:]
Macnica Digital Industry Division, Person in charge: Kashihara
Tel: 045-470-9188
e-mail: consulting-iot@macnica.co.jp

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