STODT is a Dutch technical training institute that offers courses and training programs to various groups, including CEOs, employees, job seekers, students, and course participants. They specialize in training people and companies in technology and technical skills and have invested heavily in digital twin technologies in recent years. The institute has a good reputation for practical applications in this field and aims to provide companies in the SME sector, employees, and students with the necessary knowledge and skills to solve technical problems and stimulate digital transformation in the manufacturing industry. One of STODT’s current projects is its involvement in the Interreg project EMR Digital Twin Academy, an international collaboration between various organizations in the Euregio Maas-Rijn (EMR), including STODT. The project’s objective is to increase awareness of digital twin technologies within SMEs in the manufacturing industry and stimulate digital transformation. The project focuses on developing education and training programs about digital twins and sharing knowledge about these technologies.
Digitalization is no longer an option but a necessary step for companies that want to remain competitive in the current market. Digital twin technologies are therefore becoming increasingly important and can help companies improve their productivity, quality, and efficiency. STODT is currently taking part in the Interreg project EMR Digital Twin Academy and organizing events for various target groups to raise awareness and share knowledge about digital twin technologies. STODT organizes various events under the EMR Digital Twin Academy project, including seminars and workshops, for various target groups. Seminars are conferences in which project partners, such as STODT, present the development of education programs on digital twins. During the seminar, the methodology used and the results of the use cases are disseminated, with attention to the financial aspect and the return on investment. At the same time, the reactions of other specialists on this topic are collected. The seminars will also provide opportunities for networking for various companies in the EMR involved in digitization and digital twin technology.
The goal of these seminars is to inform participants about digital twin technologies and their benefits for companies. The seminars will be organized by experts in digital twin technologies and provide participants with the opportunity to ask questions and expand their knowledge. Workshops at STODT are meetings in which participants are actively involved in discussing specific topics or solving problems. The workshops are designed to give participants practical experience with digital twin technologies, and participants will be able to work on real-life cases. Workshops aim to provide hands-on experience in digital twin technologies for participants and help them understand how digital twin technologies can be applied in practice.
STODT’s approach to education and training in digital twin technologies is unique in that it caters to various target groups, including CEOs, employees, job seekers, students, and course participants. By offering education and training programs to such a diverse group of people, STODT aims to stimulate digital transformation in the manufacturing industry and equip individuals with the skills necessary to solve technical problems.
The Learning Factory and Digital Twin
The Inspiring high-tech learning environment at MBO+ level at STODT in Best and Hengelo showcases concepts that enable companies to take the next step for automated production. With this infrastructure, we offer training to provide employees with this knowledge. As part of the Interreg project EMR Digital Twin Academy, demonstrations focusing on Digital Twin applications are regularly provided for SMEs. During these demonstrations, companies are informed about the Digital Twin applications (use cases) set up in the Learning Factory to inform companies about the (im)possibilities of the various DT applications. In conversations and interviews, we then asked what added value they see in DT applications.
One of the outcomes was that companies find it difficult to oversee and assess the advantages and disadvantages of DT for their production process. They also have no idea what the costs will be for this transition. They say they need some kind of roadmap for introducing Digital within their company. There are also big differences in knowledge and experience. The level of development also varies enormously. This is partly due to the available infra among SMEs, scale, limited investment opportunities, wide variety of production activities.
Overall, STODT’s involvement in the Interreg project EMR Digital Twin Academy and its efforts to educate and train various target groups in digital twin technologies are commendable. By providing practical education and training programs, STODT is helping individuals and companies stay competitive in the digital age and contributing to the growth of the manufacturing industry in the Euregio Maas-Rijn region.
This project is being carried out within the context of Interreg V-A Euregio Meuse-Rhine, with subsidy from the European Regional Development Fund.
Want to know more about the Interreg project EMR Digital Twin Academy see www.digital-twin-academy.eu/
