Syed Muhammad Daniyal – Managing Director & CEO, Siemens Pakistan talks to Engineering Post
1) Please throw light on the overall operations of Siemens in Pakistan.
Siemens boasts a rich and extensive history in Pakistan, spanning over a century, making it one of the longest-standing foreign investors and technology partners in the country. Our operations have evolved significantly, from pioneering infrastructure projects to providing cutting-edge digital solutions today. The company remains a key player in providing advanced technologies and solutions across various sectors, aligning with Siemens’ global strategic pillars:
1. Smart Infrastructure: This business segment focuses on electrifying, automating, and digitalizing buildings, grids, and industries, offering a comprehensive suite of solutions:
- Manufacturing of MV & LV Panels: Siemens continues to be involved in the local manufacturing & customization of Medium Voltage (MV) panels to cater to the specific needs of the Pakistani market for industrial and utility applications.
- Smart Grid Software: Delivering advanced software solutions for utilities and distribution companies to optimize grid operations. This includes SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems for real-time monitoring and control, as well as energy management systems, distribution management systems, and smart metering infrastructure to improve efficiency, reduce losses, integrate renewable energy sources and resilience of the national power network
- Electrification Products & Systems: Providing components and systems for safe, reliable, and efficient power distribution within industrial plants, commercial buildings, and infrastructure projects. This includes a range of low-voltage products, protection devices, and power management solutions.
- Building Technologies: Offering solutions for building automation, fire safety, security, and energy management in commercial, industrial, and public buildings, enhancing comfort, safety, and operational efficiency.
2. Digital Industry: Siemens supports various industries with its automation, digitalization, and industry specific solutions.
- Industrial Automation: Providing control systems (PLCs, DCS), industrial software, drives, and motion control solutions for diversified sectors like cement, textile, food & beverage, water & wastewater, and oil & gas.
- Digitalization: Helping industries adopt digital technologies to improve efficiency, productivity, and sustainability through solutions like Industrial IoT.
- Process Automation: Solutions for FMCG, chemical, pharmaceutical, and other process-intensive industries.
2) How Siemens Pakistan’s solutions promoting the engineering Industry in Pakistan?
With the mix of global competencies and local presence, Siemens Pakistan has the capabilities to offer solutions to a wide array of areas and/or marker verticals. To enlist a few:
1. Electrification and Power Distribution Engineering:
- Siemens offer: Siemens provides comprehensive solutions for safe, reliable, and efficient power distribution, from high-voltage systems down to low-voltage applications. This includes Medium Voltage (MV) and Low Voltage (LV) switchgear, protection devices, substation automation system, and power management systems etc.
- How Siemens promotes engineering: With the history of local manufacturing (especially for LV/MV switchgear) the company promotes local electrical engineers skilled in power system design, protection, energy efficiency, and compliance with international standards, ensuring robust and safe electrical infrastructure for industries and buildings.
2. Smart Grid and Energy Management Solutions:
- Siemens offer: Beyond traditional power equipment, Siemens provides sophisticated grid software solutions for utilities and distribution companies. This includes SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems for real-time monitoring and control of power networks, Advanced Distribution Management Systems (ADMS), Energy Management Systems (EMS), and solutions for Distributed Energy Resources (DER) integration.
- How Siemens promotes engineering: It promotes advanced electrical & electronics engineering skills in areas like grid stability analysis, renewable energy integration, smart metering infrastructure, and demand-side management, essential for modernizing Pakistan’s energy infrastructure and reducing transmission and distribution losses.
3. Digitalization and Industry 4.0 Solutions:
- Siemens offer: Siemens provides platforms and tools for the digital transformation of industries. This includes Industrial IoT (IIoT) solutions, Digital Twin technology for product and production lifecycle management, and Cybersecurity solutions.
- How Siemens promotes engineering: These solutions empower Pakistani engineers to design, simulate, optimize, and manage complex industrial processes digitally. It pushes the local engineering industry towards adopting advanced concepts like predictive maintenance, data analytics for operational efficiency, and smart manufacturing, and creating demand for engineers skilled in data science, AI, and industrial IT.
4. Industrial Automation and Control Systems:
- Siemens offer: Siemens is a global leader in industrial automation, providing a comprehensive range of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs), industrial software, and drives.
- How Siemens promotes engineering: Siemens’ solutions enable local engineers to design, program, commission, and maintain automated production lines, process plants (e.g., cement, textile, food & beverage), and infrastructure projects. This directly enhances the skills of automation, control, and mechatronics engineers, improving local industrial productivity and quality.
6. Technical Training and Capacity Building:
We established the Siemens Innovation Center at NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi. The Center serves as learning hub for the engineering graduates and a collaborative flatform between Siemens Pakistan and venerable faculty members of the university.
Siemens Pakistan equipped the Institute of Industrial Electronics Engineering, Karachi with advanced automation tools, including our SIMATIC S7-1500 PLCs, HMIs, and Field PGs enabling students to gain direct experience with systems shaping the future of industrial operations.
These initiatives strengthen industry-academia collaboration by building a technology bridge between the academia and the industry to produce industry-ready future engineers and workforce.
3) What are the strategies to face the challenges of competition, especially the Chinese low cost products?
Siemens Pakistan focuses on strategies that highlight its unique value proposition, differentiate its offerings, and build long-term customer loyalty. Here are key strategies to effectively counter the challenge of low-cost competition:
1. Emphasize Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) over Initial Price:
- While Chinese products may have a lower upfront cost, it is important to highlight to customers on the long-term financial benefits of its solutions with following specifics:
- Energy Efficiency: Siemens products often consume significantly less energy, leading to substantial operational savings over their lifespan.
- Reliability & Uptime: Fewer breakdowns, less unplanned downtime, and higher productivity translate directly to increased revenue and reduced operational losses for the customer.
- Longer Lifespan: Siemens equipment is designed for durability, requiring less frequent replacement.
- Lower Maintenance Costs: Superior design, quality components, and predictive maintenance capabilities reduce the need for costly repairs and routine servicing.
- Safety & Compliance: Adherence to international safety standards reduces risks of accidents, fines, and reputational damage.
- Integration Benefits: Seamless integration with other Siemens systems or existing infrastructure reduces complexity and integration costs.
2. Differentiate through Superior Technology & Innovation:
- Digitalization Leadership: We leverage on Siemens’ global leadership in digitalization. Showcasing features like Industrial IoT, Digital Twin technology, advanced automation, and smart grid solutions provide capabilities.
- Performance & Precision: Highlighting the superior performance, accuracy, and precision of Siemens products, which lead to higher quality output, reduced waste, and optimized processes for the customer.
- Futureproofing: Emphasize that Siemens solutions are designed for scalability, upgradability, and compatibility with future technologies, protecting the customer’s investment.
3. After-Sales Service, Support, and Local Presence:
- Service Network: This is a major Achilles’ heel for many low-cost competitors. We have a strong local service setup and highly trained local services personnel.
- Proactive Maintenance & Digital Services: We offer service contracts that include predictive maintenance, remote monitoring, and digital diagnostics to minimize downtime and optimize performance.
- By strategically focusing on these areas, Siemens Pakistan effectively differentiate itself from low-cost competitors and demonstrate superior value to create long-term & trusted partnership.
4) What message you’d like to convey to our readers about outlook of Siemens Pakistan?
- At Siemens, our fundamental purpose is encapsulated in our vision: “We create technology to transform the everyday, for everyone.” This isn’t just a statement; it’s the motivational force behind our commitment to pioneering solutions that enhance lives, industries, and societies.
- As ONE Tech Company, Siemens Pakistan is not just a provider of products; we are a strategic partner dedicated to transforming the everyday, for everyone. Our future in Pakistan is anchored in delivering unparalleled Customer Impact, ensuring we think and act customer-first to solve real-world problems with Technology with Purpose. We are empowering our people with a growth mindset to make faster, better decisions, driving continuous innovation right here in Pakistan.
- Siemens Pakistan is more than a technology company; we are a partner in progress. We are excited to continue our legacy of innovation, reliability, and local contribution, powering a smarter, more sustainable, and prosperous future for Pakistan.
