The manufacturing industry is one of the most important economic sectors in Europe. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play an important role in it. To remain competitive, the manufacturing industry must continue to develop and respond to new developments. One of these developments is the Digital Twin, a technology that can help the manufacturing industry optimise their production processes. To support SMEs in the manufacturing industry in this transition to smart industry, the EMR Digital Twin Academy project was set up.
The EMR Digital Twin Academy project is an initiative aimed at increasing knowledge about Digital Twin in the manufacturing industry. The project is implemented by several partners from the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. One of the Dutch partners is STODT, a knowledge and training institute for the manufacturing industry. STODT participates in the project to help companies, management, students and jobseekers gain knowledge about Digital Twin and its application in practice. The aim of the project is to build the knowledge about Digital Twin and apply this knowledge in practice. This is done by simulating the practical situation of the manufacturing industry in STODT’s Learning Factory in Best and Hengelo. Course participants from companies and MBO BBL students undergo practice-oriented training in the Learning Factory in the field of Digital Twin. This hands-on approach allows participants to immediately start applying Digital Twin in their own company.
But what exactly is a Digital Twin? Digital Twin is a technology that involves creating a digital replica of a physical object or process. This could be a machine, production line or even an entire factory, for example. Through the digital replica, companies can perform simulations and analysis to optimise processes and identify problems before they occur in the physical world. Digital Twin is therefore an important technology for companies striving for greater efficiency and higher productivity.
It enables companies to optimise their production processes and make better decisions. The EMR Digital Twin Academy project aims to help companies make the transition to smart industry step by step through knowledge building on Digital Twin. This means that companies do not have to apply all the knowledge and technologies at once, but rather step by step. Through training and coaching, companies can gradually start implementing Digital Twin and continuously optimise this technology.
Besides building up knowledge and practical experience, the EMR Digital Twin Academy project also aims to improve cooperation between companies and educational institutions. By bringing companies and MBO BBL students together in STODT’s Learning Factory, they can learn from each other and strengthen each other. Companies thus get the chance to train new employees and students can gain practical experience at companies.
STODT has developed new learning modules to introduce Digital Twin techniques to people in the manufacturing industry. Digital Twin techniques are a way of creating digital models of physical products, processes or systems, which you can then use to perform simulations and analysis to make better decisions and improve efficiency.
These teaching modules are therefore aimed at management, employees, students and jobseekers of SMEs in the manufacturing industry. The aim is to introduce this group of people to Digital Twin techniques so that they can apply them in their work, thereby improving the quality and efficiency of their products and processes. If you want to know more about these teaching modules and the EMR DTA project, you can visit the project website