Continental has introduced an AI-driven tool designed to revolutionise requirements management in product development, significantly reducing time-consuming manual processes. Developed in collaboration with Microsoft and NTT DATA, the “AI-Based Requirements Engineering” system automates the analysis of extensive specification documents, reducing the effort required for this traditionally labour-intensive task by up to 80 percent. The innovation has earned Continental the prestigious Microsoft Intelligent Manufacturing Award (MIMA), highlighting its role in setting new standards for efficiency in automotive development.
The tool, built on Microsoft Azure AI Services, processes and analyses complex specification sheets that often contain thousands of technical requirements. Previously, these documents required manual examination, with experts dedicating up to 37,500 working hours per project to ensure compliance with development needs. By implementing AI-driven automation, Continental has streamlined this process, allowing engineers to focus on higher-value strategic tasks rather than repetitive document analysis. The AI tool is capable of extracting, sorting, and allocating specific project requirements to the relevant Continental development centres, ensuring accuracy and reducing turnaround times.
Beyond improving efficiency, the AI system also plays a crucial role in keeping projects up to date. As customer requirements change during product development, the tool enables engineers to swiftly adjust specifications, ensuring alignment with evolving technical and regulatory demands. This reduces the risk of costly delays and miscommunications, making the development process more agile and responsive. Training for the new tool requires less than an hour, after which employees can immediately experience the benefits of AI-assisted processing.
The AI-Based Requirements Engineering tool has now been rolled out across all Continental’s automotive development divisions. The recognition of this innovation as the “Overall Winner” at the Microsoft Intelligent Manufacturing Award underscores its impact on the industry. The award, jointly presented by Microsoft Germany and global consultancy Roland Berger, is regarded as a benchmark for digital transformation projects in manufacturing across the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region.
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