DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
Manufacturing automation controls machinery that poses worker risks, requiring fail-safe mechanisms that operate independently during system failures. Traditional approaches rely on dedicated safety hardware to ensure protection functions remain active.
GERD WALKER
TITLE: MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT FOR PRODUCTION AND LOGISTICS
COMPANY: AUDI AG INDUSTRY: AUTOMOTIVE
Siemens has cleared this regulatory hurdle by achieving certification from TÜV, Germany’s technical inspection authority that sets stringent safety standards for industrial equipment across Europe. The certification process required proving virtual safety systems maintain operation during network disruptions, computing failures, and other failure scenarios. This technical validation removes regulatory barriers to virtual automation deployment in production environments.
Audi Board Member since February 2022 . Started at Audi 1997 , previously headed Volkswagen Group production . Mechanical engineer leading electrification and sustainability initiatives .Cultural adaptation accompanies technical implementation. Maintenance personnel traditionally verify safety systems through physical hardware inspection. Virtual systems require different verification approaches and confidence in remote diagnostics capabilities.
Year Siemens launched its first virtual controller technology before Audi pilot testing
72
July 2025
Gerd Walker, Member of the Board of
Management for Production and Logistics,
Audi AG