Solutions scheme harnesses more than 200 partners

Siemens has established a network of Certified Solution Providers to compliment its in-house engineering expertise.

As the market leader in automation, Siemens Automation and Drives places great importance on the reliable provision of individual technical solutions for its customers.

This is why Siemens has established a network of Certified Solution Providers to compliment its in-house engineering expertise.

These companies possess the expertise to develop secure, economical and future-proof solutions for every sector of industry and every automation component.

This includes all Simatic automation components - human machine interface, communication network, process control system, microsystem and motion control system - as well as products for the vertical integration of industrial automation and the business systems world.

Gert Rohrmann, Partner Manager at Siemens Automation and Drives explains the rationale behind the scheme: "The Siemens Solution Provider Programme is an integral part of our sales strategy".

"By partnering with companies that provide specialist industry and product capabilities we can offer the customer the flexibility at the solution level".

"We know we provide strong, technically excellent products".

"We can now complement this with a strong and technically excellent partner network".

"Partnering with the integrator community is a win-win strategy".

"Prospective solution providers must go through a rigorous certification process before they can become an approved partner", explains Rohrman.

"This procedure ensures that they have the necessary technical competences and quality processes in place to engineer first class and cost effective solutions".

"They must also prove their competence in using Siemens automation tools".

"Not only do we insist on high quality assurance standards and technical capability but we also measure this through a series of technical examinations".

The Siemens programme provides the end-user with a selection of approved system integrator partners known as Certified Solution Providers who can help engineer solutions based on Siemens products.

These Certified Solution Providers are both quality approved and tested for their technical competence in the use of Siemens Automation and Drives products.

Only a Certified Solution Provider is endorsed by Siemens Automation and Drives.

This endorsement provides end users with peace of mind as all the partners in the programme receive full support and backing of Siemens Automation and Drives.

Adds Rohrmann: "Each Siemens Certified Solution Provider is comprehensively assessed".

"When an end user sees a systems integrator displaying the Siemens logo they can be sure that they are dealing with a Certified Solutions Provider with proven expertise in areas of control, visualisation and communications, and with a wealth of experience in Siemens products".

The authorisation procedure involves an audit of expertise, engineering capacity and programming skills, plus regular training on new developments in hardware and software, direct access to Siemens engineers when required and priority release of software upgrades.

This gives Certified Solutions Providers advance knowledge and access to innovations and new products some time before they are available on general release - further ensuring that the end user gets a solution that provides a real competitive advantage.

Prospective Solution Providers can choose to be certified for "Factory Automation": "Process Automation" or both.

To qualify for Factory Automation, integrators must prove their knowledge and expertise in the following three specialty fields: Simatic Step 7 (basic package for configuration and programming of Simatic automation systems); Simatic HMI - ProTool/Pro or Simatic WinCC (Europe's number-one Scada system); and Simatic Net - Industrial Ethernet or Profibus.

Process Automation certification also requires the integrator to have expertise in three key areas: Simatic PCS 7 (Siemens' process control system); Simatic HMI and WinCC; and Simatic Net.

In each specialty field at least two employees must be certified as Siemens Automation Certified Specialists: therefore at least six certifications are required.

Successful completion is documented by certificates for the company and employees.

Once the certification process has been successfully completed, the certificate is valid for two years.

After two years, additional proof of an employee's knowledge is required which, in turn, requires recertification.

This is also valid for two years if successfully completed.

As a global organisation, Siemens is keen to establish consistently high standards among all its solution providers.

Rather than rely on single-nation approvals schemes, the current Certified Siemens Solution Provider scheme comprises a network of more than 200 partners in over 20 countries ranging across America to Europe and China.

Importantly, this means that end customers can approach any certified company anywhere in the world about either new projects or existing installations, confident that all certified providers have at least a minimum level of knowledge and experience.

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