Schaeffler modernizes factory data insights with AI and Microsoft Fabric
Schaeffler AG faced significant challenges in harmonizing and extracting insights from factory data distributed across IT and OT systems worldwide. To address this, Schaeffler partnered with Avanade to implement an end-to-end solution using Microsoft Fabric and an AI agent in Azure AI, as part of Microsoft Cloud for Manufacturing. The platform allows Schaeffler employees to access and analyze key production data in natural language, resulting in actionable, near real-time insights covering machine downtime, quality issues, and productivity metrics. The solution leverages standardized data pipelines to unify and contextualize disparate datasets, driving up operational efficiency in over 100 plants. Factory workers and managers now resolve production issues faster and more independently, reducing both troubleshooting time and unplanned downtime. This approach highlights the democratization of advanced analytics and generative AI for factory staff, not just specialist teams, representing a scalable foundation for future innovation across Schaeffler’s global manufacturing footprint.
- Organization
- Schaeffler AG
- Industry
- Manufacturing
- Location
- Germany
- Published
- June 2025
Reported outcomes
Strategic outcomes
Primary read
Use case focus
Showing 3 of 3
- 1Natural Language Factory Data Analytics
- 2AI-Driven Real-Time Production Monitoring
- 3Automated Root Cause Analysis for Manufacturing Downtime
- Factory data was siloed across diverse IT/OT systems, making holistic insights difficult.
- Time-consuming and manual factory reporting delayed issue resolution.
- Low productivity and increased downtime due to lack of quick actionable data.
- Need to provide front-line workers with easy access to analytics and troubleshooting guidance.
- Implemented Microsoft Fabric to harmonize, contextualize, and centralize heterogeneous production data.
- Deployed an AI agent in Azure AI to enable natural language access to metrics and analytics.
- Built data pipelines and unified reporting as part of Microsoft Cloud for Manufacturing.
- Partnered with Avanade for solution design, implementation, and change management.
- Near real-time insights enabled across more than 100 factories.
- Significantly reduced troubleshooting and root cause analysis time.
- Boosted machine uptime, yields, and employee productivity.
- Empowered factory floor employees to solve problems faster and independently.
- Established foundation for scalable, AI-driven innovation.
Architecture
The solution harmonizes and contextualizes data from IT and OT systems using Microsoft Fabric. An AI agent deployed in Azure AI allows workers to query data in natural language. Data pipelines aggregate and map information from ERP, MES, SCM, and machine sensors, providing unified analytics via apps accessible on the factory floor.
Implementation partners1
Sources & evidence3
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