Poland can no longer base its competitive advantage on low labour costs. According to Maciej Zieliński, CEO of Siemens in Poland, the country’s industrial future will now be decided by innovation, digitalisation, automation and artificial intelligence. He argues that Poland is not at a disadvantage in the global race.
Speaking to WNP.PL, Zieliński noted that artificial intelligence is resetting the playing field in industry. He compared the current AI revolution to the electrification of factories more than a century ago. – AI resets the conditions. Our companies have the opportunity to compete with the largest entities in the world, precisely by using and adapting modern technologies – he said.
The CEO stressed that Poland has long ceased to be a mere assembly plant based on low-cost labour. – We must invest in science and development – he added. Siemens itself is celebrating 35 years as a company in Poland, though its presence dates back to 1913 when it ran a warehouse in Łódź.
Digital twins become an industrial standard
One of the key tools transforming manufacturing today is the digital twin. These virtual replicas are no longer just for individual products but entire production lines and factories. – Virtual twins, which we talked about a lot 10 or 5 years ago, are now a kind of industrial standard – Zieliński emphasised. By simulating different scenarios in a virtual environment, companies can dramatically cut time to market. – If the investment process can be shortened from five years to two or three, the company enters the market faster and starts achieving its business goals sooner – he explained.
Artificial intelligence pushes the boundaries even further. In predictive maintenance, sensor-equipped production lines continuously send data on temperatures, engine performance and actuator characteristics. AI analyses this data to predict where a failure might occur before it happens. – These boundaries are constantly shifting with technological progress, and AI is a game changer here – Zieliński said.
Poland’s advantages in the global competition
Asked whether Europe and Poland can compete with the speed of product deployment in China or India, Zieliński rejected the notion of a lost position. – The technological sophistication of Chinese companies is increasing, we compete globally. But I disagree with the thesis that we are at a disadvantage – he stated. Europe still holds a strong position in industrial technologies, energy, automation and advanced production lines. Additionally, nearshoring and friendshoring trends benefit Poland.
– We have a large internal market, a very favourable geographical location, a very high percentage of university graduates – he listed. Poland also has a strong and diversified industrial base. – Every fifth Pole works in industry, which is very diversified. There is no dominant sector, unlike in Slovakia or the Czech Republic where automotive dominates – he noted.
Cybersecurity remains a horizontal concern as industrial systems become more connected to IT, cloud and data analysis. Zieliński pointed out that the weakest link is often human behaviour – sticky notes with passwords or simple passwords like '1,2,3′. – Cybersecurity is one of the horizontal areas of Siemens’ activity because we deliver a lot of hardware and a lot of software – he said, adding that systems not modernised for 15–20 years can be weak spots.
Importantly, new technologies are no longer reserved for large corporations. Small and medium-sized enterprises can now access digital twins, industrial software and automation through subscription models. – Such easy access to technology has never been seen before in the history of the world – Zieliński concluded.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. Siemens
