How Siemens partners with industry to help engineers become day-one ready

One of the biggest challenges facing industrial companies today is a lack of qualified talent. In every industry, companies are struggling to find and hire the professionals needed to execute digital transformation initiatives. 

That’s why Siemens academic program is on a mission to help engineers become day-one ready by partnering with businesses to prepare students for a radically different engineering, design and manufacturing environment.  

From educating students on innovative software platforms to teaching sustainability best practices and offering real-world experiences, Siemens academic program offers a range of solutions for building the long-term talent pipeline your organization needs to become a truly digital enterprise. 

Navantia (a Spanish state-owned shipbuilding company and the fifth largest shipbuilder in Europe) is a great example of how the academic program can support an organization’s digital transformation goals. 

How Navantia implemented a robust plan for the technology transfer and talent acquisition needed for shipyard 4.0 

Navantia is currently in the process of transforming their business to a new industry model oriented around sustainability, technological innovation and digitalization encompassing all areas of the company. 

Among other goals, Navantia plans to reduce costs and delivery times by 20% while improving quality. As a foundational part of this effort, Navantia has adopted the entire portfolio of Siemens’ software solutions including platforms such as NX, TeamCenter, Simcenter and Tecnomatix. These software solutions are part of the Siemens Xcelerator business platform of software, hardware and services. 

But to make all this possible, Navantia needs a steady pipeline of candidates qualified to leverage these software platforms. That’s why Siemens and Navantia partnered to create the Center of Excellence of the Naval Sector (CESENA), which includes the Marine Digital Twin educational program that trains and certifies future professionals on the digital technologies required for these goals. 

With Siemens academic program, Navantia has also partnered with four of the closest universities in Spain to educate the next generation of engineers. As a result, these universities now offer students access to the entire Siemens software portfolio, as well access to the Siemens Xcelerator Academy so that students may learn how to use the software online. 

In addition, Siemens has provided these universities with customizable curricula on how to teach specific engineering topics. By completing these courses, students can earn certifications to verify their learnings and expertise with different tools. 

As part of this initiative, the University of Coruña created the Naval Classroom 5.0, a new training initiative for educating students on the end-to-end solutions that Navantia is implementing in its digital transformation program. With tools such as NX, Star CCM+, Teamcenter and more in a digital twin environment, students can learn how Navantia is manufacturing and maintaining a complete ship through its entire lifecycle, from its initial conception all the way to service and repairs. 

In short, Siemens and Navantia have partnered to create a long-term solution for supplying the talent needed to create a more efficient, more innovative and more sustainable shipbuilding model. 

Businesses can partner with Siemens to create custom badges or credentials for in-demand skills 

Beyond our work with Navantia, the Siemens academic program has an exciting new credentialing program for supplementing traditional degree programs. 

While traditional degrees provide a vital foundation for engineers, many manufacturers are seeking candidates with additional competencies in emerging technologies, multidisciplinary subjects and interpersonal skills. 

Siemens’ credential program offers businesses a method of building a talent pipeline customized to fit their needs. Employers can create digital badges or credentials tailored to fit their unique engineering and manufacturing environments, helping them source candidates with just the right skills needed for success at their organization. 

A creative opportunity for businesses to trial our software portfolio 

If your business hasn’t experienced the impact of Siemens’ end-to-end software portfolio, it can be hard to fully appreciate the value it provides. 

That’s why Siemens offers businesses the opportunity to trial our software by involving students in their final thesis projects, provided the student publishes their work. By allowing a student to serve as an independent adviser using our software solutions, your business can witness the transformative value of these platforms firsthand.  

Finally, it provides an excellent chance to recruit a qualified professional with experience in these software platforms and your unique business. 

Digital transformation can’t occur without transforming the future workforce 

Your digital transformation strategy will only be as successful as your ability to meet technology transfer and talent acquisition goals. It’s time to prioritize those efforts accordingly, and Siemens academic program is here to help. 

What could your organization achieve with a pipeline of day-one-ready engineers? Stay informed of our latest initiatives to prepare engineers for today’s manufacturing environment.