PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN MICROSOFT AND MERCEDES-BENZ TO REVOLUTIONIZE CAR MANUFACTURING PROCESSES

Microsoft-Benz is collaborating with Microsoft Corporation in the former’s vehicle production process to aid in its improvement and sustainability using digital channels.

The MO360 Data Platform, an extension of the Mercedes-Benz’ digital production ecosystem, will be able to about 30 car plants to Microsoft Cloud as a way of adding value to its product and supply processes. The platform will also point out hindrances in supply and prioritizing resources put into the manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (EVs) and high-end vehicles.

Microsoft Azure will regulate this data platform to allow Mercedes-Benz the ease and cloud computing power to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and analytics worldwide among other processes. 

“This new partnership between Microsoft and Mercedes-Benz will make our global production network more intelligent, sustainable and resilient in an era of increased geopolitical and macroeconomic challenges. The ability to predict and prevent problems in production and logistics will become a key competitive advantage as we go all electric,” said Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Production & Supply Chain Management, Joerg Burzer.

In addition, Chief Information Officer, Jan Brecht, is hinting the importance of data as per the current era, and at Mercedes-Benz. The emergence of this platform, he says, will help employees on the “shop floor” find and use real-time data in management and decision-making functions.

The MO360 data platform will help to virtually create a duplicate of the car model and as well optimize its operation before manufacturing. It will aid in analyzing and visualizing production data to eliminate any hindrances – present and future. 

Aside from that, the carmaker can depend on real time data provided by MO360 data platform to plan production based on available component and preventing delivery delays as the future is eventually targeted at all-electric vehicles.

“Mercedes-Benz' partnership with Microsoft is a testament to the power of the industrial metaverse,” said Executive Vice President and (EVP) Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Microsoft Judson Althoff. “Together, we are merging the physical and digital worlds to accelerate value creation. Mercedes-Benz can simulate and refine manufacturing processes infinitely in the Microsoft Cloud before bringing them to the shop floor to enhance efficiency and minimize its environmental impact amid constant change and uncertainty.” 

Mercedes-Benz is making its new digital factory in Berlin the hub for the engineering teams of the data platform, and eventually, a training and qualification center to carry out ‘world targeted’ digital approaches. The platform is already available to teams in EMEA and will be deployed in the United States and China.