NEC has teamed up with Siemens in an effort to improve data collection and analytics at the enterprise level. To that end, NEC will apply its System Invariant Analysis Technology (SIAT) to the MindSphere operating system as the latest member of the MindSphere Partner Program.

MindSphere is a cloud-based open operating system designed for industrial IoT environments. Developed by Siemens, the operating system covers plants, machines, systems, and individual products, and gathers data from sensors spread across the entire network.

NEC’s SIAT solution will be deployed to monitor and analyze that data. The platform provides organizations with a visual representation of their network that shows them what it should look like when everything is running smoothly. The platform can use that information to detect (and proactively address) any potential issues, while the visualization itself will make those issues easier to spot with the naked eye.

Siemens and NEC believe that the joint solution will help strengthen an organization’s institutional memory, especially when it comes to systems that require specialized technical expertise. Doing so will give organizations some protection against the losses that occur when a key employee retires or leaves the company.

“Siemens is committed to creating partnerships that help customers realize digital transformation with Industrial IoT,” said Siemens Japan Country Manager Kunihiko Horita. “Working with NEC can help provide MindSphere applications that improve customers’ ability to add value to their digital initiatives.”

The two companies will initially target customers in the manufacturing industry, but eventually plan to provide coverage to other sectors.  

NEC is currently trying to position itself to capitalize on the rapidly expanding 5G ecosystem. The company has formed a joint 5G sales team in collaboration with Samsung, and supplied NTT DOCOMO with new 5G radio units. It also partnered with BlackRidge to improve the security of its smart city platform.