With U.S. 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,” said Chris Stevens, president, Siemens Digital Industries, U.S. “Among these are transparency to performance, workforce readiness, technology integration, cybersecurity and productivity.”
For SMBs navigating today's complex production landscape, the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio offers a transformative solution. Its open digital business platform provides solution-as -a-service — and includes the innovative new SMB Production Optimization Starter Pack, manufacturing software including the Siemens Industrial Edge Management Cloud and Industrial Edge Virtual Device, that enables customers to pay for what they need and scale at their own pace.
Siemens has made this digital transformation journey accessible through a three-month free trial, followed by an affordable annual subscription. This comprehensive package includes technical support, self-paced training, and the invaluable expertise of Siemens’ robust network of trusted partners across the U.S.
Siemens’ partners, including PROLIM, are instrumental in delivering the SMB Production Optimization Starter Pack to market, providing localized 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,” said Prabhu Patil, founder and CEO of PROLIM.
The SMB Production Optimization Starter Pack revolutionizes traditional production monitoring by providing real-time insights and flexible dashboards and reporting, empowering manufacturers to evolve from reactive problem-solving to proactive operational excellence. This integrated, modular solution is agile, flexible and scalable, and is designed for easy implementation without specialized IT skills or complex infrastructure changes.
"Our approach is fundamentally different," said 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 digitalization journey. This isn't just about technology, it's about making digital transformation easy, deliver results fast and impact scalable.”