Enterprise Twin

Enterprise Twin

This is the most extensive digital twin, covering large portions of the supply chain from suppliers to production and distribution centres. These twins can help unlock advanced planning benefits as they work across a larger part of the system and not just a specific aspect.

When most people consider digital twins, they think of the visualisation and simulation tools used to develop innovative new products. Offshore oil platforms, racing sailboats, luxury automobile engines, hotels and train stations are just some of the things that have been designed and refined using advanced digital simulations. These use cases represent a fraction of what digital twins can accomplish. It is helpful to think of digital twins less as a tool for designers, engineers and manufacturers and more as a laboratory in which nearly any organisation can optimise its most precious resource—information—to continually push the boundaries of what it can accomplish. By using data to mirror real-world situations, digital twins can be deployed to create, fine-tune or entirely re-imagine nearly any complex process or system, including supply chains, public transit systems and manufacturing assembly lines.

Connected Automation: IIoT

Automation accompanied by digital transformation is at the very core of business today, yet many manufacturing companies still struggle to execute on this imperative. The Covid-19 pandemic has made this imperative even more pressing: companies that don’t act with urgency to get through the crisis and recovery mode risk falling behind at a time when they can least afford to. Among the slow adopters are those companies struggling to implement the IIoT, considered as pivotal to the future of manufacturing. The IIoT approach helps connect the three Ps mentioned earlier—process, plant equipment and people—in a unified automation system.

Effective digital transformations are business-backed and business-led. Digital transformation is about envisioning how technologies like IIoT can redefine value creation by accelerating and scaling existing operations, rethinking how customers are served and reinventing business models. It’s a complete re-imagination of the way work is done. Above all, it is about a new way of competing in the manufacturing sector.

IIoT, combined with other manufacturing automation technologies, is already delivering significant value to many manufacturers, big and small. One reality business leaders cannot ignore is the role they must play in driving digital transformation, achieving end-to-end impact from IIoT. Adopting advanced digital technologies takes enterprise-wide commitment from the top leadership. To ensure widespread adoption and momentum, companies must view digital transformations as a business-led transformation.

Business leaders must start with a clear vision and then consider the technologies that they will need to advance that vision. While some efforts may fail, leaders must learn from them and try again by encouraging cooperation and collaboration among business units and forging a strong sense of unity. The entire enterprise must pursue digital transformation as one, with a strong sense of collaboration and urgency—urgency because digital transformation is a matter of competitive advantage. No company can be completely ready for such a transformation as it is a journey and not a destination. Transformation is a work in progress, and agile methods that support and enhance it can ease this transformation. Adoption delays only result in a painful catch-up game, which is often futile. Finally, leaders must consider the capabilities that will accelerate and reinforce transformation, such as a scalable IIoT architecture or a technology partnership in an ecosystem that will reinforce and amplify the benefits. They must demonstrate the positive impact an IIoT-based digital transformation can bring to all the stakeholders and help build sustainable employment in the future, which is a true win-win-win for employees, partners and the entire business.