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.

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.

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.

TITLE: MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT FOR PRODUCTION AND LOGISTICS

COMPANY: AUDI AG INDUSTRY: AUTOMOTIVE

Audi Board Member since February 2022. Started at Audi 1997, previously headed Volkswagen Group production. Mechanical engineer leading electrification and sustainability initiatives.

Year Siemens launched its first virtual controller technology before Audi pilot testing

72 July 2025