How can component manufacturers successfully manage the introduction of Digital Twins?

The DIAMOND project, funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWK), is dedicated to the development of a common data model. The goal is to create consistent, data-based solutions for the creation, transfer, and use of Digital Twins in the plant design process. CADENAS and the other partners have been working on the implementation since the start of the project at the end of 2022.

To determine how companies can effectively manage the implementation of the Digital Twin, the DIAMOND project conducted a survey. Over 100 participants were asked if certain factors significantly impede the introduction of the Digital Twin in factory planning and engineering. The results reveal the current challenges that companies are facing.

The data from the quantitative survey once again supports the experts' opinion. The successful implementation of the Digital Twin requires a holistic view of various technical, infrastructural, security, and skills-related factors. Targeted measures must be derived to overcome these factors.

A lack of awareness or understanding of the benefits of the Digital Twin also plays a critical role. Managing and transferring relevant data in the right quality across different systems was identified as one of the biggest barriers. In contrast, IT and data security are the least significant barriers.

The results provide valuable practical experience and show which hurdles still need to be overcome to implement the digital twin in companies in the industry. CADENAS and the other partners in the DIAMOND project are working to realize the full potential of the digital twin in the future.