With the US industrial sector projected to face 1.9 million unfilled jobs by 2032, according to Deloitte, and equipment failures causing up to 20% production losses, SMBs are under pressure from workforce shortages, costly downtime, rising operating costs, supply chain disruptions and the complexities of adopting Industry 4.0 technologies.
‘Small- and medium-sized manufacturers are the backbone of our economy and they are dealing with a different set of challenges compared to enterprise-scale manufacturers,’ says Chris Stevens, president, Siemens Digital Industries, US. ‘Among these are transparency to performance, workforce readiness, technology integration, cybersecurity, and productivity.’
For SMB manufacturers navigating today’s complex production landscape, the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio offers a solution-as-a-service approach. Its open digital business platform includes the new SMB Production Optimisation Starter Pack manufacturing software, which includes the Siemens Industrial Edge Management Cloud and Industrial Edge Virtual Device. The SMB Production Optimisation Starter Pack is flexible and scalable, and provides real-time insights and flexible dashboards and reporting, empowering manufacturers to evolve from reactive problem-solving to proactive operational excellence.
To make the package more accessible, Siemens is offering a three-month free trial, followed by an annual subscription. The package includes technical support, self-paced training, and the invaluable expertise of Siemens’ robust network of trusted partners across the US. That said, the solution is designed for easy implementation without specialized IT skills or complex infrastructure changes
Siemens’ partners, including PROLIM, are instrumental in delivering the SMB Production Optimisation Starter Pack to market, providing localised support, hands-on implementation assistance, and tailored guidance to ensure a truly seamless and supported digital transformation. ‘PROLIM is thrilled to join forces with Siemens to deliver agile, digital solutions tailored for SMBs facing real production and workforce challenges. Combining the capabilities from Siemens Industrial Edge and PROLIM’s deep domain knowledge makes Industry 4.0 affordable, scalable, and results-driven, helping SMBs excel and remain competitive in today’s fast-changing market,’ comments Prabhu Patil, founder and CEO of PROLIM.
‘Our approach is fundamentally different,’ says Bettina Rotermund, head of strategy of Siemens Xcelerator. ‘This package specifically addresses the unique needs of SMBs, who require simpler, more targeted solutions to master their digitalisation journey. This isn’t just about technology, it’s about making digital transformation easy, delivering results quickly, and scaling operations.’
