Reflecting on 2024: A Year of Growth, Collaboration & Innovation

As 2024 comes to a close, we take a moment to reflect on the highlights and accomplishments that shaped our year at SYSTEMA. Despite a challenging economic climate, we’ve witnessed the resilience of our industry and the determination of manufacturers to embrace automation, integration, and the promise of AI. Let’s revisit the milestones and moments that defined 2024.

Key Events: Fostering Collaboration & Innovation

This year, SYSTEMA hosted two major events that showcased the power of collaboration and innovation in the manufacturing space.

Factory Automation User Group (FAUG)

The FAUG event brought together industry leaders, engineers, and technology experts for a day filled with insightful discussions and knowledge sharing. Attendees praised the event’s engaging format, particularly the panel discussions that sparked lively debates about the future of automation and AI adoption in legacy and modern fabs. One attendee called the event “an eye-opener on how to prepare for scalable AI.”

SAP Manufacturing Innovation Day

Building on the momentum of last year, SAP Innovation Day 2024 featured deep dives into the latest advancements in manufacturing solutions. The event’s interactive workshops and live demonstrations received overwhelmingly positive feedback. Participants highlighted the unique opportunity to connect with peers and learn how SAP’s solutions are driving efficiency and scalability. One attendee shared, “This was one of the most practical and informative events I’ve attended, with real-world examples of automation challenges and solutions.”

21st Annual Automation Network Dresden (AND) Innovation Forum for Automation

The annual Innovation Forum has been organized by the Automation Network Dresden (AND) in Germany since 2004. Its member companies (Fabmatics, Kontron AIS, SYSTEMA and XENON) are dedicated to providing attendees with the latest insights into significant factory automation projects as well as new automation technologies across various industries with a focus on semiconductor. The two-day event provided a platform for more than 300 international executives, managers, engineers and researchers to delve into the latest developments, challenges and solutions in factory automation technology. In addition to gaining professional knowledge, it provided again an intimate, friendly and open-minded space for networking and fruitful exchange with other automation enthusiasts.

Recognition: Gartner Spotlight

We are honored to have been recognized in two of the Gartner® Supply Chain Market Guides for our work in Advanced Planning & Scheduling (APS) and MES/MOM solutions. This acknowledgment reflects our commitment to crafting innovative, scalable solutions that allow manufacturers to efficiently and confidently address challenges. It’s a testament to the trust our clients place in SYSTEMA and the impact of our collaboration in driving meaningful results.

Milestone Project: Transforming Operations with EI-Suite

A significant highlight of 2024 was securing a global EI-Suite implementation contract with a leading semiconductor manufacturer. This ambitious project aims to transition their operations from complex systems, including the use of Excel spreadsheets in some areas, to a unified solution that integrates best-of-breed and streamlined systems.

Once completed, this transformation is expected to deliver:

• Agile production management to adapt to dynamic demands
• Scalable systems capable of supporting future growth and adoption of new technologies
• Enhanced operational visibility across all sites
• Near real-time access to enterprise-wide data, driving informed decision-making

This contract underscores the trust placed in SYSTEMA to guide manufacturers through complex transitions that pave the way for operational excellence and long-term success.

Industry Trends: Resilience in a Shifting Market

The semiconductor industry experienced some turbulence in 2024, with a slowdown in chip manufacturing for new technologies and 300mm fabs. However, this hasn’t diminished the momentum in mature fabs, particularly in the memory and GPU markets. These sectors remain critical areas of focus as manufacturers leverage their existing infrastructure to meet growing demand.

While there are signs of caution, manufacturers continue to invest heavily in automation infrastructure and systems integration. This year, we’ve seen significant advancements in data collection strategies, ensuring rapid adoption of emerging technologies that promise to redefine manufacturing capabilities. It’s clear that even amidst uncertainty, the industry remains optimistic about the future, laying the groundwork for innovation.

Looking Ahead

As we prepare for 2025, we remain committed to our mission of enabling transformative change in manufacturing. Whether it’s through thought leadership, innovative solutions, or fostering collaboration, SYSTEMA will continue to be a trusted partner to manufacturers worldwide.

We thank our clients, partners, and team for making 2024 a remarkable year. Here’s to a future of continued growth and innovation together.