Multidimensional Maturity Model for Digital Twins

Thread forming requires precise lubricant application because high contact pressures and process temperatures strongly influence tool loading, friction, and process stability. Although minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) systems are widely used, current spray-based approaches can still suffer from spray losses, insufficient wetting of the thread grooves, and unstable droplet transport. This article presents a concept for adaptive precision lubrication in thread forming based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-supported flow analysis, experimental validation, and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted optimization. The focus is on droplet size, spray jet geometry, nozzle position, ambient flow conditions, and their influence on wetting intensity. Preliminary simulation-based investigations indicate that data-driven optimization can help identify wetting deficiencies and support the development of future control strategies for resource-efficient lubricant application.

In the manufacturing industry, the integration of digital human models into the product development and manufacturing process is becoming increasingly important. Particularly in assembly, which is characterized by a high proportion of manual tasks, motion simulations enable a realistic representation of human work and thus make a significant contribution to the evaluation of motion economy, process validation, and efficiency improvement. However, widespread application in production planning faces various challenges, such as the high initial effort required to create human simulations as well as volatile planning conditions. This article presents a practice-oriented solution from the automotive assembly sector that enables the creation of simulations with reduced effort as well as their early and consistent use in the planning process.

Swivel bending is an established forming process that minimizes material loss and enables efficient use of resources. However, the process requires complex optimizations that have traditionally relied heavily on the expertise of machine operators. This results in significant time and material costs, as optimization steps are performed iteratively. Given the shortage of skilled workers, a technological upgrade of the machines in line with Industry 4.0 is necessary. As part of a research project, intelligent sensor technology was used to record critical influencing factors that reveal correlations between product defects and machine deformations. Based on this, a methodology was developed that forms the foundation for inline compensation, enabling the equipment to autonomously adjust process parameters to correct product defects and, in the long term, enable defect-free production from the very first component.

Digital twins are a key enabling technology of the fourth industrial revolution, integrating physical systems with their digital counterparts to create intelligent, data-driven environments. This conceptual/practice-oriented paper examines how to establish a modern architectural framework for digital twins leverages modern tech-stack like IoT, Data Fabric, AI/ML, seamless integration and enterprise grade security. The paper is grounded in an abundance of literature by leading vendors and analysts in space. It offers a comparative study of different vendors implementing the solution stack in the proposed architecture.