Being at the forefront of technological innovations within the country, Siemens Malaysia has made significant headway when it comes to supercharging the transformation of industries and infrastructure.
The tech giant has collaborated with the federal and state governments, businesses, SMEs and even the education sector to effectively align company strategies with initiatives like the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) and the 12th Malaysia Plan.
Recently, Siemens established a partnership with the Selangor government to become the technology advisor responsible for accelerating digitalisation and automation technologies across industries like agrotechnology, communication, transportation, engineering and machinery, sustainability, education segments and many more.
According to Siemens Malaysia President and Chief Executive Officer Tindaro Danze, the company offers advisory and consultancy services for the state government to bolster Selangor’s economic position and attract more investments to the state.
“For example, the NIMP’s goal to create a ‘Smart Factory’ landscape for Malaysia is a sweet spot for us to get involved. With our portfolio of cutting-edge automation technology and software applications, we can support the government in reaching its ambitious NIMP 2030 goals,” Danze explained in an exclusive interview with The Exchange Asia.
The Literal Backbone of Technology
Elaborating further, Danze said that a highly skilled workforce is crucial to fostering such ambitious digitalisation and economic growth targets. Hence, Siemens has been working closely with institutes of higher education throughout ASEAN to provide training for students and industry professionals alike.
Earlier in April, Siemens’ low-code app development business, Mendix partnered with Orangeleaf Consulting and Selangor Technical Skills Development Centre (STDC) to elevate Selangor’s digital landscape and nurture a skilled workforce that’s capable of driving technological advancements.
“Through the collaboration, we transcend localised efforts by sharing globally-utilised syllabi and concepts across ASEAN countries, facilitated through knowledge exchange,” he said.
Siemens also engaged with Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) to lead and conduct relevant training courses for undergraduates pursuing a Bachelor of Technology in Industrial Electronic Automation degree with Industry 4.0 skills.
“We will conduct product update workshops related to the latest trends in factory automation for UniMAP faculty members as the university has also purchased Siemens training-related hardware and software for these training courses,” informed Danze.
Ease of Digital Utilisation
Regarding industrial and technological advancements, Siemens offers solutions that integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into its software to efficiently predict faults, optimise data analytics and make human-machine interface safer and more intuitive, which will lead to better decision-making, saving resources and increasing output at the same time.
An example of such a solution is developing smart, data-driven power grid management that will allow companies to better handle the volatility of renewable energy sources.
Additionally, Danze mentioned that the partnership that Siemens has with NVIDIA allows it to create an industrial metaverse for its customers, enabling users to solve industry challenges collaboratively across borders and time zones.
However, with the rapid evolution of the Internet of Things (IoT) and its application within Industry 4.0, there is a pressing need for scalable technology to effectively tackle issues involving global megatrends like globalisation and the shift towards net-zero initiatives.
Optimising Energy for the Future
In the topic of sustainability, Siemens’ innovative and green solutions allow users to significantly reduce energy usage and seamless energy monitoring and management.
When it comes to grids, Siemens has conducted comprehensive studies on incorporating renewable energy into Malaysia’s power grid by digitalising the grid through its analysis, design and meter data management software.
“Digitalisation enables us to optimise power distribution, ensuring it reaches where it’s needed most without over-generating power. This leads to operating closer to its limits, resulting in higher efficiency and enabling us to manage the growing energy demand effectively,” he added.
Apart from optimising power usage, Siemens is also a Registered Energy Manager (REEM) after receiving the certification from the Energy Commission, officially recognising Siemens as an Energy Service Company (ESCO) and allowing it to conduct energy audits for businesses.
“This can help us expand our energy portfolio in the market and align our business strategy with the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR),” Danze said, highlighting that Siemens is also working closely with local SMEs.
“We partnered with one of the largest solar energy companies in Malaysia, Progressture Solar, to collaborate with industry players and deliver seamless energy solutions that facilitate substantial emissions reduction,” he stated.
Jumping on the EV Shift
Meanwhile, in the electric vehicle (EV) scene, Siemens is having ongoing conversations with the utility and local authorities, providing them with updated studies from Siemens’ best practices across the globe to adequately prepare Malaysia for the imminent shift towards EV adoption.
“We are also actively engaged with industry groups, namely the Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) and Zero Energy Vehicle Association (ZEVA), to advance this agenda.
“This includes addressing fire safety concerns associated with lithium-ion batteries in EVs, as well as ensuring the requisite power distribution infrastructure, including sub-stations, for the deployment of fast chargers,” Danze said.
To further amplify Siemens’ contributions to the industry, the tech giant shares these initiatives with local governments and agencies via multiple channels.
In addition, Siemens is supporting its customers in their digital transformation journey through its Siemens Digital Enterprise Experience (DEX) Centers in Penang and Kuala Lumpur.
Customers can gain access to cutting-edge technologies, a network of industry experts and a supportive ecosystem that fosters innovation and growth.
“The mission of these centres is to empower manufacturing companies in Malaysia to embrace advanced manufacturing practices and remain at the forefront of industry advancements,” he concluded.
