digitaler Zwilling

The paper presents a method for the systematic selection of “Digital Twin” applications of products. Based on a product-independent search of implementations, potential use cases for the product’s ”Digital Twin” are specified and selected. This selection of applications forms the basis of the method, which allows a detailed modeling in two phases. The result of this modeling is an in-depth understanding of the use cases themselves and their requirements, especially information requirements, on the “Digital Twin” of the product. Furthermore, these findings enable an efficient conception and implementation of the virtual image of the product and can be the basis for optimizing the existing value chain.

Media disruption interferes with consistent and universal digitalization. Data is easily lost, time and resources wasted. Heterogeneous and isolated applications produce partial relief; however they fail to integrate redundant information from separately operated systems into a homogeneously processible data mass. The employment of a centralized data hub proposes a strategy to effectively advance digitalization in process management, connecting scheduling of involved parties, defect tracking and progress processes. It also automatizes reportings on project progress.

The digital twin is supposed to be a major tool for increasing productivity in the age of industrial digitalization. However, there are many heterogeneous definitions about the digital twin. This situation hardly supports the practical digital twin implementation. For this reason, the article introduces a new concept, called the Digital Twin Theory which is a theoretical framework containing several hypotheses about digital twins. The aim of the framework is a better understanding about the digital twin management in practice.