Companies on the lookout for new competitive advantages almost inevitably eye up the vast potential of the Internet of Things (IoT). It opens up new business models and valuable scope for development and success in virtually all sectors. For example, the IoT's flexibility enables any size of company to profitably offer even custom solutions in small production runs and thus get one step ahead of the competition. The further this networking progresses, the more we will need new technology to understand gigantic data volumes, interpret them and identify the patterns and relationships therein. It is precisely for this kind of cognitive task that IBM Watson was conceived. It learns in the same manner as a human brain so as to derive recommendations for future action.

A wide range of potential applications already exists for cognitive systems in production processes. They could function as intelligent assistants for workers, or Watson could prove incredibly adept at controlling smart machines in cyber-physical systems (CPS) and predictive maintenance and quality assurance (PMQ). IBM is revealing its initial experiences with cognitive solutions at HANNOVER MESSE 2016. In a trial with John Deere, for instance, key support, decision-making advice and automation potential was offered to on-the-job workers as well as in the field of production planning and optimization.

IBM Deutschland GmbH (71139 Ehningen, Germany), Hall 7, Stand D18

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