EXPERIENCING FACTORY SIMULATION SOLUTIONS THROUGH OAKLAND UNIVERSITY GRADUATES

EXPERIENCING FACTORY SIMULATION SOLUTIONS THROUGH OAKLAND UNIVERSITY GRADUATES

Image of two software developers sitting in front of computers, looking at code on the screen and thinking about how to accomplish their tasks

In November 2020, The Wall Street Journal highlighted the partnership between Oakland University and Siemens. Summarizing the growing need for collaboration between industry and academia, John D. Stoll reported, “As university budgets tighten and student debt burdens increase, partnerships between companies and schools are being strongly encouraged.” This is welcome news, as it is extremely beneficial not only for classroom learning but also for students’ future careers.

Ryan Schoettle, a 2019 graduate of Oakland University, is currently a Digital Industrial Engineer at Brose North America Inc., where he applies Industry 4.0 skills on a daily basis. These skills have helped him stand out in the industry and were cultivated through strong collaboration between academia and industry. As a regional simulation specialist with expertise in Siemens factory simulation, Schoettle has leveraged both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience to support the company’s continued growth.

After graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in mathematics education, Schoettle returned to school to pursue his passion for engineering. He was drawn to Oakland University’s Industrial and Systems Engineering program because of its focus on innovation. “This was truly exciting for me because it revolves around efficiency and improving people’s lives—making things easier, faster, and more effective.”

The Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) Department at Oakland University joined Siemens’ Global Academic Partner Program in 2009. Through the program, the department received access to the Tecnomatix® digital manufacturing solution portfolio (including factory simulation, Jack™ software, and process simulation solutions), Teamcenter™ software tools, as well as training and support. The focus was on product lifecycle management (PLM), making these tools a perfect fit for existing courses.

During his time at Oakland University, Schoettle was introduced to Siemens Plant Simulation software. He became eager to learn more and interested in its full range of simulation capabilities. Working closely with faculty members, Schoettle was even able to fulfill some graduation requirements by conducting an independent semester-long study focused on Plant Simulation.

After several months of self-learning with the help of professors, Siemens blogs, and online community forums, Schoettle was able to apply these new skills to a long-term, high-potential project.

He completed his final project by presenting five concrete examples of how Plant Simulation can be used and how different models are represented using a digital twin. This work created a learning portfolio for professors to apply with future students, helping them better understand and visualize the software’s capabilities.

After interning at Brose, Schoettle accepted a full-time position at the company as a Digital Industrial Engineer. With prior experience using Plant Simulation at Oakland University, he was able to provide valuable insights to management on how the software could be utilized.

Siemens extended the trial period for the company, and Schoettle became Brose’s sole primary Plant Simulation user worldwide. After completing several projects that saved thousands of dollars and improved efficiency, the company decided to purchase a long-term license. “Because Plant Simulation is such a powerful and flexible tool, I convinced the company to invest in a long-term license beyond the trial period. As a result, we have been using the software for more than two years.”

In recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic has made Schoettle’s work even more demanding. During a highly challenging business year, simulation software provided critical insights and contributed to significant cost savings. “Simulation has truly been invaluable to us.

It has significantly reduced overall business risk.” Understanding the value of the digital twin, Schoettle was able to save his company thousands of dollars. His goals for 2021 included working with company leadership to establish a simulation-driven culture across departments.

When asked for advice to other engineers considering entering the field, Schoettle said, “If you are self-motivated and enjoy learning simulation software on your own, I highly recommend the PLM community. You can find answers to almost any question, and if not, you can post your question [on the forums] and receive responses within 20 minutes from experts. It’s incredible how active that community is.”

Source: Siemens

SDE Digital Technology Co., Ltd. (SDE TECH) was established in 2014. By 2018, we were honored to become a Smart Expert Partner – a leading partner of Siemens Digital Industries Software in the Southeast Asia – Pacific region for Siemens NX (Unigraphics NX), Simcenter, Solid Edge, Tecnomatix, and Teamcenter management solutions. Enterprises and customers who need to contact SDE TECH can reach out via the following information: