A Five-Step Approach to Planning Data-Driven Digital Twins for Discrete Manufacturing Systems

Abstract

A digital twin of a manufacturing system is a digital copy of the physical manufacturing system that consists of various digital models at multiple scales and levels. Digital twins that communicate with their physical counterparts throughout their lifecycle are the basis for data-driven factories. The problem with developing digital models that form the digital twin is that they operate with large amounts of heterogeneous data. Since the models represent simplifications of the physical world, managing the heterogeneous data and linking the data with the digital twin represent a challenge. The paper proposes a five-step approach to planning data-driven digital twins of manufacturing systems and their processes. The approach guides the user from breaking down the system and the underlying building blocks of the processes into four groups. The development of a digital model includes predefined necessary parameters that allow a digital model connecting with a real manufacturing system. The connection enables the control of the real manufacturing system and allows the creation of the digital twin. Presentation and visualization of a system functioning based on the digital twin for different participants is presented in the last step. The suitability of the approach for the industrial environment is illustrated using the case study of planning the digital twin for material logistics of the manufacturing system.

State of the Art and Future Directions of Digital Twins for Production Logistics: A Systematic Literature Review

“…Although most of the authors can be attributed to Germany, they have varying affiliations. In the present case, most authors are affiliated with the University of Hong Kong (7), followed by the University of Jinan (6) in China. The institutions to which at least three records can be linked are listed in Table 4.…”

“…This leads to difficulties in the optimal design and control of production logistics systems [4,5]. However, DT technology offers several approaches to overcome these problems [6,7]. Originally, the concept of a Digital Twin was presented at the University of Michigan by Grieves in 2003.…”

Integrated Artificial Neural Network and Discrete Event Simulation Framework for Regional Development of Refractory Gold Systems

“…As previously noted, this integrative approach can be used in the development of simulation-based digital twins. Similar to recent work by Wilson et al [40], the proposed framework is currently intended for offline design and/or early implementation purposes and can thus be termed a "digital model", a subtype of the digital twin paradigm [56,57]. However, it would be possible to integrate the models into a mine control system, whereby the framework could be gradually migrated to an online state.…”

Design for Weapon Live Test Decision Support System Using Digital Twin Architecture

“…[15] 은 계획, 요구사항 분석, 설계, 개발, 실험 과정으로 이루어진 SDLC(System Development Life Cycle)를 기반으로 디지털 트윈 모델을 설계하고 구현하는 방법론을 제안하였다. M. Resman et al [16] [14] 과 디지털트윈 개발방법론 [15,16]…”