Introducing the 2017 Digital Innovator Award Winners

The Industrial Internet is transforming the way we drive productivity, asset availability, and efficiency. Each year, GE recognizes our customers who are driving innovation forward. By partnering with these organizations, we’re not only able to deliver new, innovative technology solutions, but push the future of “digital.” It’s our honor to recognize six organizations that exemplify the possibilities digital industrial transformation promises.  

Join us in congratulating the 2017 Digital Innovators Award winners for their inspiring commitment to the digital industrial transformation.

Port of Los Angeles

Just three years ago, the Port of Los Angeles, America’s largest container port, suffered from incredible congestion. To get cargo flowing, the team knew they had to find new efficiency drivers. That’s when the Port embraced a digital industrial transformation. In 2016, the Port of Los Angeles partnered with GE Transportation to launch a first of its kind digital information portal. The pilot effort helped increase visibility of incoming cargo from two days to 14. With this early success, a full roll out has begun. Once fully deployed, the solution will support approximately nine million TEUs (20-foot shipping containers), more than 15,000 truck providers, and thousands of cargo importers. The team projects up to 12% efficiency increases across the Port of Los Angeles.

Hubco

Hubco is the first and largest Independent Power Producer (IPP) in Pakistan, accounting for approximately 10% of national electricity. They recognize that the rising demand for power in Pakistan, must be met and are committed to leading the way. Digital industrial transformation is essential for reaching their vision of expanding energy efficiency and production from 1.5GW to 5GW over the next five years.

To achieve this goal, Hubco has partnered with GE for both hardware and operational efficiency software which will power more homes across the country. Hubco has chosen the Predix platform and the GE Digital suite of solutions, including Operations Optimization (OO) and Asset Performance Management (APM). Efficiency improvements will help Hubco achieve more than $19 million per year in fuel savings – equivalent to three percent savings in operating costs. This type of dramatic improvement is enabling the company to invest in growth that will enable more Pakistanis access to power.

Saudi Electricity Company (SEC)

After a long tendering process, GE was awarded the SEC GOC Digital project to drive a nationwide digital transformation of electricity in Saudi Arabia.  Then GE and SEC worked together to make SEC’s power generation capabilities one of the world’s most efficient and reliable as it prepares to meet the anticipated increase in electric energy demand, from 77GW in 2014 to 156GW in 2040.

SEC has established a Generation & Optimization Center (GOC) with a state-of-the-art Center of Technology (COT), which will be equipped with GE digital solutions to monitor and analyze the reliability and efficiency of 21 SEC power plants. The center will monitor all data from main plant components, using GE’s advanced industrial software and technologies to predict any potential disruptions.

Qantas Airways

For Australian airline Qantas Airways, fuel efficiency is paramount. Since 2015 the airline has saved millions of kilograms of fuel by leveraging GE Flight Analytics software. In 2017, they took an additional step towards greater efficiency by tapping into one of their most valuable assets, pilots. With FlightPulse, built on GE’s Predix Mobile framework, 1700 pilots now have access to individual flight data to inform in-flight decisions, furthering the company’s commitment to fuel efficiency driving down costs and reducing carbon emissions

Ferromex

Mexico’s largest rail operator, Ferromex, is committed to efficiency improvements that reduce dwell time. Using GE Transportation’s Smart Shopping suite, 100 Evolution Series locomotives will be monitored for health and performance 24x7. With more comprehensive digital insights maintenance needs will be predicted before the locomotive enters the shop, reducing downtime and lowering repair costs. 

Apple

Apple’s devices are widely used in businesses around the world and now developers and industrial organizations can better take advantage of the powerful technologies built into iPhone and iPad. The recently released Predix SDK for iOS gives developers the ability to make powerful, native apps that take full advantage of the industrial analytics from Predix and tap into the power and ease of use of iOS, the world’s most advanced operating system. Through the partnership with Apple, GE also plans to develop apps for internal use as well giving its workforce powerful tools to enhance their jobs and help operations run more efficiently. 

Congratulations to all the winners for their commitment to driving industry forward and embracing the benefits of digital industrial transformation.