Key technologies provide essential impetus in all important industries worldwide – not only to secure innovative strength and competitiveness, but also to solve major social challenges. In the context of digitization and Industry 4.0, key enabling technologies have been joined by a strong partner:
The digital twin.
As a key partner in the Digital Twin Academy project, aimed at promoting the use of digital twins in Industry 4.0. and being carried out within the context of Interreg V-A Euregio Meuse-Rhine, with subsidy from the European Regional Development Fund, the NMWP Management GmbH is committed to advancing the use of digital twins in Industry 4.0 through learning and collaboration.
Building a Digital Twin Community
One of our key objectives in the project is to build a digital twin community by bringing together experts, researchers, and practitioners from various fields. We have organized several workshops, webinars, and meetings to facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration among members of the digital twin community and to address key questions and concerns that businesses may have about digital twins. Our webinars cover various topics, such as how companies can target this new technology, how production downtime can be avoided during implementation, and how digital twins can be used in an AR and VR environment for predictive maintenance and learning new work processes. These webinars are still available in our portal and at the website of the digital Twin academy.
These activities have led to the creation of a strong and supportive network that can help SMEs in their digital twin implementation journey, so don’t hesitate to become part of the community.
Developing Learning Materials
We have collaborated with the Fraunhofer IPT, to develop learning material covering various aspects of digital twin technology. These material provide SMEs with information on the benefits of digital twins, the challenges they may face during implementation, and practical guidelines for successful adoption. Therefore, we are excited about our upcoming Interwiev with NORTHDOCKS were we dicuss about the necessary preconditions for digital twins to unfold their full potential, emphasizing the importance of data security, sovereignty, and standardization. The key focus will be on how photo-realistic and interactive digital twins could revolutionize education and training in combination with augmented or virtual reality to help companies harness the power of this emerging technology. Our learning materials are available on the Digital Twin Academy website and can be accessed for free.
Developing a strategy for the implementation of a digital twin
We have developed a digitalization strategy for SMEs with the goal of implementing a digital twin in their operations. To successfully implement a digital twin, SMEs must ensure that certain preconditions are met, such as having a suitable IT infrastructure in place, on-premises or off-premises. Furthermore, Data acquisition and processing are crucial components for the successful implementation of a digital twin. In order to create an accurate and reliable digital twin, it is essential to have a comprehensive data acquisition strategy that includes the collection of data from various sources, such as sensors and other data acquisition devices. Once the data is collected, it needs to be processed and analyzed to extract meaningful insights that can be used to improve operations and optimize processes.
Towards the implementation, vertical and horizontal integration play a key role in data acquisition and processing for digital twin implementation. Vertical integration involves integrating data from different levels within an organization, such as ERP and MES systems, to ensure that all data is being captured and used effectively. Horizontal integration, on the other hand, involves integrating data from different departments or areas within an organization to create a holistic view of operations. By effectively integrating data vertically and horizontally, companies can gain a competitive advantage through data-driven decision-making
We are excited about the progress we have made in the Digital Twin Academy project and the opportunities ahead. If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact us.