Pairing up for progress: The advance of digital twins
By Steve Garnsey2020-01-10T15:32:00
A computer-based tool for process planning, quality checking, monitoring systems and a wide range of other uses, digital twinning is increasingly making its presence felt across the automotive industry. In essence, this is a version of something in real life, such as a piece of machinery, a production line or a supply chain operation, which is recreated on a desktop computer or a tablet. Digital twins are now used across manufacturing and warehouse operations to manage material flow, complete the order-to-delivery process and make efficiency and quality improvements in vehicle production.
“Digital twins can give insight into your entire supply chain, enabling you to strategically plan production depending on stock levels and supplier lead times,” says Andrew Aitken, chief commercial officer of software company Lanner. “Through having this knowledge, automotive plant managers can plan production with a full understanding of what materials and resources are available to them, ensuring targets are met.”
In some cases, the twin may be reproduced via virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) viewed through special headsets, though there is some debate in technology circles about whether these systems are complex enough to be true digital twins. BMW Group, however, has used virtual and augmented reality for more than two years to assist production workers and to support designers in planning new facility layouts.