Siemens Partners with Hyundai and Kia to Bring Digital Twinning Into Automotive Manufacturing

Siemens was chosen by Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation (both part of the Hyundai Motor Group) as the preferred bidder in their quest for next-generation product data management and engineering. 

 

Hyundai, Kia, and Siemens

Hyundai and Kia have chosen Siemens to implement two key packages from their digital transformation Xcelerator portfolio: the Teamcenter portfolio and NX software. These two packages will be leveraged as the core for Hyundai and Kia’s new, transformative data management and design platform. 

 

Siemens will be working with Hyundai and Kia to help them begin their digital transformation. Image used courtesy of Siemens

 

Hyundai and Kia are internationally known automotive manufacturers whose product lineups include both EVs (electric vehicles) and HEVs (hybrid electric vehicles). Siemens specializes in automation, electrification, and digitalization of manufacturing and processing industries and is ready to support Hyundai and Kia’s digital transformation both with key software products and education on how to use them.

 

Digital Mobility Transformation and Digital Twinning

The overarching objective of this partnership is Digital Mobility Transformation. This digital transformation includes a comprehensive working environment that will enable them to establish better design methods and create custom solutions that take into consideration the lifecycle of automobiles. 

This includes activities and processes such as product research development, production, and purchasing and team members associated with customers, partners, suppliers, and vendors.

 

How digital twinning could work in automotive manufacturing. Image used courtesy of Siemens

 

Among the other tools made available through the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio are digital twin capabilities. Digital twinning refers to creating digital replicas of physical objects, systems, processes, devices, and physical assets--and products. 

This approach allows extensive testing, simulations, and calculations on digital versions of products that will behave the same as real products. For Hyundai and Kia, the digital twinning will focus, at least in part, on creating model-based simulations in the cloud that are combined with actual performance analytics and test data. 

 

Siemens Xcelerator

As alluded to earlier, the key to digital twinning and digital transformation lies in using the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio. Siemens has been committed to expanding Xcelerator capabilities to support various applications, including industrial additive manufacturing, electrical and electronic system development, and automation design. There will likely be expansions related to its implementation for Hyundai and Kia.

 

Teamcenter makes better control possible for product data, processes, and changes. Image used courtesy of Siemens

 

Teamcenter is a part of Siemens Xcelerator that focuses on PLM (product lifecycle management). Teamcenter allows team members across an organization to seamlessly interact in the product development process and access the data associated with it. 

Also a part of the Xcelerator software portfolio, Siemens NX supports product development from early concept stages to actual manufacturing. Implementation has already been found to significantly reduce time to market and costs while also enhancing agility. Note that Xcelerator NX is the toolset that supports digital twin capabilities. 

The demand for effective digital mobility transformation tools and powerful digital twinning software is growing as more manufacturers are recognizing the benefits that it brings to the design process.