16 Jul 2026
This week 124 participants from our “Doing Business in Changing China” Summer School, jointly organised by IBSS and the Department of China Studies, visited Siemens Electrical Apparatus Ltd., Suzhou (SEAL).
Participants toured the corporate exhibition hall, intelligent manufacturing workshop and R&D testing centre gaining first-hand insights into the company’s achievements in intelligent manufacturing, digital transformation, localised innovation and sustainable development through -the site visit, thematic presentations and interactive discussions. The activity helped bridge classroom learning with industrial practice and broadened participants’ understanding of international business.
At the start of the visit, the corporate guide introduced Siemens' development history since its founding in 1847, and outlined the company’s progress in industrial digitalisation and intelligent manufacturing. Through demonstrations of products and solutions – including power distribution equipment, industrial control systems, human-machine interaction devices and PLC controllers, participants gained a clearer picture of the company's technical capabilities and l applications within the power infrastructure sector.
Following the exhibition hall tour, participants entered the production workshop, where they observed fully automated production lines equipped with AGV (automated guided vehicle) systems and robotic material handling. Over the past three years, the factory has rolled out AI-powered visual inspection systems to replace traditional manual quality checks, alongside digital twin simulation systems to enable end-to-end digital monitoring and control.
Technical staff explained that, by leveraging AI-driven visual inspection, digital simulation for product optimisation, and innovative material application schemes, the factory has significantly improved production efficiency. The company has also established a unified digital platform connecting R&D, production and quality control data, reducing communication gaps and ensuring consistent quality standards across global production sites.
Hongxie Zhong
Following the tour, the students took part in a thematic exchange with Zhonghong Xie, Operations General Manager of Siemens Suzhou, Yong Zhou, Director of Customer Service at SEAL. He provided an overview of the company’s operations, and discussions focused on five key areas: digital quality control, supply chain resilience, local market competition, global talent development and cost control. Xie noted that Siemens will continue to advance technological innovation, local R&D and supply chain optimisation to strengthen competitiveness and respond to evolving market demands. The company also introduced its global learning platform and cross-business training systems, which support continuous professional development and international career progression, and outlined its demand for high-calibre talent in the context of digital transformation.
During the exchange session, students actively raised questions drawing on their classroom learning, discussing topics such as digital transformation, industrial upgrading and global operations. These discvussions further deepened their understanding of manufacturing trends and real-world business practices.
Yong Zhou
After the visit, participants shared their reflections. James Victory, a student from Indonesia, said:
"This corporate visit gave me a more intuitive understanding of the development model of transnational enterprises in China. From intelligent manufacturing to supply chain management, and the application of digital technologies in production, I have seen how classroom knowledge is put into practice in real enterprises, and I better understand how digital transformation drives innovation and development in the manufacturing industry."
The visit to Siemens is a key component of the ‘Doing Business in Changing China’ Summer School and visits like this really bring the classroom learning to life, offering our international cohorts a practical lens through which to explore intelligent manufacturing, digitalisation and global operations.
Edited by Thomas Durham
Reviewed by Yahong Cai & Yifei Wu
16 Jul 2026