Sparking innovation: Generative AI hackathon for Data-Driven Manufacturing
On October 10th and 11th, Siemens held a dynamic hackathon on the theme of Generative AI (GenAI) within the Data-Driven Manufacturing business line at Siemens Digital Industries Software, bringing together talented Siemens minds from around the world. With about 70 participants spanning the U.S., Germany, Austria, Italy, India and China, the event was a powerful showcase of Siemens’ drive to push the boundaries of innovation.
How it all started
This hackathon came to life out of early GenAI experiments led by several Insights Hub teams, especially the Development team under the guidance of Thomas Ripplinger. Dave McLeish, head of DevOps at Data-Driven Manufacturing, saw the potential for GenAI to transform the Insights Hub portfolio. He decided to launch the hackathon to:
- Boost knowledge of GenAI across the teams,
- Generate impactful, innovative ideas for the Data-Driven Manufacturing portfolio, and
- Encourage collaboration and creative problem solving.
Bringing together some of our teams to envision the future of GenAI in manufacturing creates an invaluable learning experience, with ideas that have the potential to shape industry.”
Dr. Ralf M. Wagner, senior vice president, Insights Hub
Breakthrough generative AI ideas shaping the future
The hackathon brought forward creative solutions that demonstrate the potential of GenAI to empower data-driven manufacturing. These ideas focused on enhancing user experience, improving operational efficiency, and enabling smarter data analysis. Each solution aims to empower users to navigate complex systems more intuitively, make faster and more informed decisions, and optimize processes seamlessly.
The hackathon was an inspiring experience of high focus, dynamic energy, profound commitment, and seamless collaboration by all participants. It continues fostering a culture of innovation around a shared vision – to establish the hackathon as a regular event for turning bold, creative ideas into reality with high agility. A tangible realization of ‘think big, start small, move fast.‘”
Dr. Alin Murarasu, principal engineer and lead architect for AI/ML, Insights Hub
These innovations showcase the power of GenAI to make manufacturing smarter, more responsive, and, ultimately, more impactful for customers.
What’s next for these ideas?
Guided by a panel of Siemens leaders – Dr. Ralf Wagner, senior vice president, Insights Hub; Dave McLeish, head of DevOps, Insights Hub; and Dr. Alex Epple, head of Product Management, Insights Hub – each idea was evaluated for its potential impact on Insights Hub’s solutions and portfolio. Thanks to the hackathon’s success, DevOps and Product Management are teaming up to prioritize and refine these ideas, with early customer feedback to make sure they address real-world needs.
The excitement and energy from this hackathon has laid the foundation for future GenAI development, and plans are already underway to hold similar events in 2025.
Get ready for what’s next
The GenAI hackathon is just one way Siemens brings innovation to life. With ongoing development of reusable GenAI frameworks, tools, and best practices, we’re ready to lead the next wave of data-driven solutions for manufacturing.
Our hackathon embodies the Siemens spirit of innovation and impact.”
Dave McLeish, head of R&D, Insights Hub
Check out some images from the hackathon and then stay tuned – there’s a lot more to come from Siemens’ brightest minds!
