Train operators the world over are expected to work miracles, i.e. never to be late. So, with acute service and availability targets to meet, an efficient maintenance program is important. And data-enabled functionality is a must for Siemens. Reactive maintenance (after an incident) and routine, preventive maintenance with its visual inspections and scheduled exchange of components, are no longer enough. We’ve moved on to more cost-effective, condition-based, predictive maintenance. The actual condition of components is measured via the transfer and remote monitoring of diagnostic sensor data; data which is also used to analyse patterns and trends. This helps predict when a component is likely to fail, so it can be repaired before anything untoward happens. To ensure the commercial sustainability of this approach, Siemens needs to use and re-use existing data, creating a kind of ‘Internet of Trains’. Towards this end, they’re analysing sensor data in near real time, which means they can react very quickly, ensuring that customer transport services aren’t interrupted. “It is really difficult to define every issue before it impacts operations using only data from the trains”, Kress explains. However, recent success stories prove that everything is possible.

IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation that manufactures and markets computer hardware, middleware and software, and offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas ranging from mainframe computers to nanotechnology. IBM is intent on leading the development of a global data field. Year founded: 1911 Revenue: $92.7 billion (2014) NYSE: IBM

Oracle is a leader in enterprise software and provides hardware and services to help companies improve their processes. Best known for its focus on databases, it offers aid in areas such as managing business data, collaboration and application development, customer relationship management, and supply chain management.Year founded; 1977Revenue: $38.2 billion (2015)NYSE: ORCL

Atos provides services such as facilities management, e-commerce consulting, systems design, implementation, and integration, and managed services. It also offers data and transaction processing services, website hosting, and outsourced services for such functions as customer relationship management and enterprise resource planning.Year founded: 1988Revenue: $17.0 billion (2014)NYSE: ATOS

Kingdee is a leader of enterprise management software and internet service in China and Asia Pacific region, and a leading provider of middleware, online management and life-cycle e-commerce service provider. Kingdee is committed to becoming the world’s leading management and IT integrated solutions service provider.Leveraging its insights into the nature of e-commerce in China, Kingdee focuses on enterprise PaaS and SaaS fields and building out the Kingdee Cloud ecosystem. Among Kingdee Cloud services, Kingdee Cloud, Cloud-Hub, Jingdou Cloud, and Guanyi Cloud are designed to meet the diverse needs of different enterprises.

Altair is a leading provider of enterprise-class engineering software enabling innovation, reduced development times, and lower costs through the entire product lifecycle from concept design to in-service operation. Our simulation-driven approach to innovation is powered by our integrated suite of software which optimizes design performance across multiple disciplines encompassing structures, motion, fluids, thermal management, electromagnetics, system modeling and embedded systems, while also providing data analytics and true-to-life visualization and rendering.

Siemens is the largest engineering company in Europe. With their positioning along the electrification value chain, Siemens has the knowhow that extends from power generation to power transmission, power distribution and smart grid to the efficient application of electrical energy.Featured Subsidiaries/ Business Units:- Digital Factory- Siemens Technology to Business (TTB)