Achieving Production Excellence with Enhanced Connectivity and Compliance in North America
BMW has long been recognised as a leader in innovation and quality within the competitive automotive industry. Named the best automotive brand amongst 34 other automative brands in an April 2024 Consumer Reports, BMW North America, takes pride in how it serves its customers.
The BMW Manufacturing facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina, employs 11000 people and spans eight million square feet. This site is known for assembling BMW’s X3, X4, X5, X6, X7, and XM Sports Activity Vehicles and Coupes. BMW’s reputation as one of the largest automotive exporters by value from the U.S. underscores its commitment to quality and innovation, which extends to its IoT connectivity and data compliance management.
A few years ago, BMW North America faced significant costs for IoT connectivity. In particular, it was the telematics and robotic systems crucial to their production line, where connectivity costs were impacting operational efficiency and overall production cost management.
To help maintain its leadership and enhance its manufacturing processes, BMW North America partnered with Digital Inc. to implement the SIFT SIM and intelligent connectivity services. The initial objective was to analyse and optimise data usage without compromising safety, security, or service quality.
“The integration of Digital Inc.’s SIFT Connectivity has been transformative for our manufacturing processes. Monitoring and optimising our IoT connectivity has not only reduced costs but also enhanced our operational efficiency and compliance. It’s a crucial tool that supports our commitment to quality and innovation in every vehicle we produce.“
IoT Manager for Telematics at BMW North America
Digital Inc. started by analysing data transfers for the telematics units and robotics, capturing all data types and correlating them to specific production functions. This detailed analysis allowed BMW to prioritise and optimise data usage, ensuring only mission-critical data was transmitted. Non-essential functions were identified and either optimised or eliminated, significantly reducing unnecessary data traffic.
The implementation of the SIFT Connectivity brought several key benefits to BMW, including:
Increased Efficiency: By understanding and prioritising essential data functions, BMW improved operational efficiency.
Cost Reduction: Optimising data usage led to a 20% reduction in monthly IoT connectivity charges.
Regulatory Compliance: The SIFT Connectivity ensured all data transmissions adhered to regional laws and regulations, mitigating compliance risks.
Enhanced Security: Real-time monitoring and management capabilities provided immediate responses to security threats and compliance breaches.
The IoT Manager for Telematics at BMW North America in charge of the project, shared his thoughts on the impact of the SIFT platform: “The integration of Digital Inc.’s SIFT platform has been transformative for our manufacturing processes. Monitoring and optimising our IoT connectivity has not only reduced costs but also enhanced our operational efficiency and compliance. It’s a crucial tool that supports our commitment to quality and innovation in every vehicle we produce.”
BMW North America’s partnership with Digital Inc. and the implementation of the SIFT SIM and connectivity services solution demonstrate how innovative technology solutions can drive efficiency, cost savings, and compliance in the automotive industry.