COVER STORY


Smart factories


EFFICIENCY – IT’S A TWIN THING


Marius Wessels, Manager: Professional Services for


SYSPRO, explains how digital twin technology can be used in smart manufacturing


T


he manufacturing industry is constantly evolving, driven by rapid technological advancements, shifting market demands, and


global trends. While much of the spotlight  innovative technologies like digital twins are playing a crucial role in revolutionising the manufacturing sector. Digital twin technology, which creates virtual replicas of physical objects and systems, enables manufacturers to optimise processes, predict maintenance needs, and  situations and their outcomes, digital twins enable organisations to make more informed decisions.


When digital twins are linked to real- time data sources from the environment,  physical counterparts. This real-time mirroring includes behavioural insights and visualisations derived from data.  system, digital twins form what’s known as an enterprise metaverse – a digital, often immersive environment that replicates and connects every aspect of a company. McKinsey research indicates that 70% of C-suite technology executives at large enterprises are already exploring and investing in digital twin technology. 


created its National Digital Twin Programme  the creation of high-quality, safe and secure digital twins across all sectors by laying down a clear framework for digital twinning technologies. There are several types of digital  For manufacturers, the product twin is particularly relevant. This represents a product throughout various stages of its lifecycle, from initial concept design and engineering to full functionality. This means manufacturers can access live, real-time data


24 May 2025 | Automation


on a product as if it were in service.  action is seen in the automotive industry with Volvo. Renowned for prioritising passenger safety, Volvo uses digital twins to create virtual replicas, allowing them to test and  new vehicle designs. Product digital twins are also invaluable


 help manufacturers reduce material usage in product design and enhance traceability. Consumer electronics manufacturers,  sustainability improvements by employing digital twins, reducing scrap waste by 


 advantages for manufacturers, particularly  rapid iterations and optimisations of product designs, digital twins enable manufacturers to test virtually, eliminating the need to  simulating the product throughout the   Product development leaders anticipate that digital twins will accelerate development processes, enhance outcomes, and reduce costs. The global market for digital twin technologies is projected to grow at an annual   twins help the manufacturing industry work 


 providing deeper insights into physical assets. They can also model the entire supply chain,  optimising logistics, inventory management, and distribution.


 doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing approach. Companies can begin their journey towards an enterprise metaverse with a single digital  product is a high-quality, ready-to-use dataset that can be easily accessed and applied across  source of truth that can be enhanced over time, forming the basis for future use cases.  on behavioural data insights, it provides increasingly powerful predictive capabilities. From this starting point, manufacturers can


create multiple interconnected digital twins to simulate complex relationships between  generates richer behavioural insights, enabling more sophisticated use cases and delivering greater value.


When implementing digital twins, digital maturity is essential. This maturity hinges on having a robust data infrastructure that delivers reliable data from both testing and live environments, coupled with the talent needed to build and maintain that infrastructure.


SYSPRO eu.syspro.com


automationmagazine.co.uk


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40