IT professionals at thyssenkruppDriving its customers forward

Digitizing and connecting production systems

thyssenkrupp has successfully set a course for the future by systematically digitalizing all areas of its business and focusing its efforts on the green transformation. The group of companies is driving its customers forward when it comes to digitalization by harnessing the broad tech expertise of its own IT experts.

Customer requirements are becoming increasingly demanding as a result of global competition. Regardless of whether we’re talking about the steel industry, the automotive sector, logistics or plant engineering. Digitized production and processes have become indispensable for thyssenkrupp. “Without digitized production systems, automatic data collection or the analysis of data in the cloud, we would be unable to meet our customers' growing demands,” explains Roland Kerbleder. As Head of Operations, he has been responsible for overseeing the advancement of digitalization in production at thyssenkrupp Presta, the technology leader in steering technology, since 2013.

The steering specialists use a powerful “Manufacturing Execution System” (MES) to collect information on a continuous basis. The system controls and monitors the production processes in real time. All the data that is collected is sent to a cloud and stored there. This means it can be accessed at any time - from anywhere in the world regardless of the plant you work at. And this allows thyssenkrupp Presta to meet its customers’ high quality and speed requirements at all times.

Big data and fully networked value chains

thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG also relies on fully networked production - and big data. Over 500,000 sensors monitor every step of steel production and store huge amounts of data in the central cloud platform "TERA". This allows customers to track every production step and their deliveries in real time. And even make adjustments: Just a few hours before rolling, customers can adjust the material properties or specify when their steel should be rolled. Thanks to digitalization, the IT professionals enable them to process and use the steel even more efficiently.

IT as a business enabler

The IT infrastructure is fundamental to digital production. Also at thyssenkrupp Bilstein. "If the network fails, nothing works in networked production," reports Dr Peter Fischer, head of infrastructure, security & digitalization at the shock absorber specialists. One of the biggest challenges for Peter and his team is ensuring that the systems are stable in order to guarantee smooth production. And at the same time, to further develop the IT infrastructure and production using modern technologies such as cloud computing, PaaS (platform-as-a-service) and SaaS (software-as-a-service).

Functioning IT is not only the standard in international competition today. It can also become a game changer. This is also confirmed by Dr. Peter Fischer: "We are developing our IT away from a traditional (internal) service provider to a business enabler that generates real added value for the specialist departments" - and therefore directly for customers.

Protecting networked systems with powerful cyber security

In the field of IT security, too, increasing demands determine the daily work: the number of global cyberattacks continues to rise. Every year, companies record losses in the three-digit billion range due to cybercrime, in Germany alone. The attackers' target: networked production systems and the entire IT infrastructure of industrial companies.

It is IT professionals like Daniel Sauder who take on the attackers. Since 2021, the IT professional has been responsible for "Offensive Security & Security Enablement" in the Cyber Security Solution Center at thyssenkrupp. Daniel's area of responsibility includes two disciplines: In penetration testing, or "pentesting" for short, the IT specialists manually check their own systems for security gaps or vulnerabilities. Vulnerability management, on the other hand, involves identifying and eliminating the vulnerabilities identified in the IT infrastructure. Daniel can rely on his excellently trained, highly motivated team for this.

Modern software for intelligent chassis systems

Cibi Kaliamoorthy can also rely on her team. As Head of System Integration at thyssenkrupp Bilstein, she uses modern software to make intelligent chassis systems possible. At a time when chassis systems are becoming ever more powerful and smarter, software developers like Cibi are becoming increasingly important. After all, software, electronics and algorithms have long been just as important as the mechanical chassis components. Together with her team, the engineer therefore develops tailor-made software solutions for numerous well-known car manufacturers: "All of our projects are very future-oriented, modern, extremely diverse and have specific requirements in each case. We work closely with our customers to find creative and appropriate solutions for their requirements."

Reducing CO₂ emissions with digital supply chains

The same applies to thyssenkrupp Materials Services, one of the world's largest plant-independent materials traders. In close cooperation with its customers, the materials trader is increasingly evolving from a pure materials seller into a service provider and supply chain manager. To achieve this, thyssenkrupp Materials Services is focusing primarily on automation, digitalization and artificial intelligence. The supply chain expert's goal: To be climate-neutral by 2030. In addition to their own ambition, the materials experts also want to help their customers achieve this goal - with modern and digitalized supply chain management, among other things. Because only together can CO₂ emissions be drastically and sustainably reduced.

In order to create an efficient and flexible supply chain, the thyssenkrupp Materials Services team must act with foresight. Digitalization and transparent data exchange make this possible. Among other things, freight spaces, their utilization and costs are continuously monitored and analyzed in real time. Even bad weather, traffic jams or changes in demand are part of the constant monitoring. They are crucial to the question of whether transport routes or dwell times in warehouses can be optimized.