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CIRP 93 (2020) 222–227
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53rd CIRP Conference on Manufacturing Systems

53rd
53rd CIRP
CIRP Conference
Conference on
on Manufacturing
Manufacturing Systems
Systems
Creation of digital production twins for the optimization of
Creationvalue28th creation
of digital
CIRP Design in single
production
Conference,andtwins
small
May forbatch
2018, production
the optimization
Nantes, France of
value creation in single and small batch production
Günther Schuha, Christoph Kelzenberga, Jan Wiesea, Niklas Kesslera *
A new methodology Günther Schuh
toa, Christoph
analyze Kelzenbergthe functional a anda,physical
, JanAachen
Wiese Niklas
architecture
Kesslera30, * 52074
of
existing products for an assembly oriented product family identification
Laboratory
a
for Machine Tools and Produtcion Engineering (WZL) of RWTH University, Campus-Boulevard

* Corresponding author. Tel.: for

Laboratory
a
+49Machine
241-80-26793. E-mail
Tools and n.kessler@wzl.rwth-aachen.de
address:Engineering
Produtcion (WZL) of RWTH Aachen University, Campus-Boulevard 30, 52074

Paul Stief *, Jean-Yves Dantan, Alain Etienne, Ali Siadat

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +49 241-80-26793. E-mail address: n.kessler@wzl.rwth-aachen.de

Abstract École Nationale Supérieure d’Arts et Métiers, Arts et Métiers ParisTech, LCFC EA 4495, 4 Rue Augustin Fresnel, Metz 57078, France
Abstract
*Due to their specific
Corresponding industry
author. Tel.: +33 3characteristics, companies
87 37 54 30; E-mail address: in single and small batch production encounter completely different challenges than
paul.stief@ensam.eu
companies in series production. The lack of repetitive effects and thus the resulting lack of transparency, complicate the optimization of
Due to their specific industry characteristics, companies in single and small batch production encounter completely different challenges than
manufacturing processes. However, the realization of digital production twins promises the exploitation of existing potentials. The digital
companies in series production. The lack of repetitive effects and thus the resulting lack of transparency, complicate the optimization of
production twin represents a virtual image of the production process and, in addition to increased transparency regarding the occurring processes,
manufacturing processes. However, the realization of digital production twins promises the exploitation of existing potentials. The digital
enables data-supported decision making through the usage of individualized digital applications. This paper focusses on the development of a
Abstract
production twin represents a virtual image of the production process and, in addition to increased transparency regarding the occurring processes,
methodology for the creation and implementation of digital production twins in single and small batch production companies.
enables data-supported decision making through the usage of individualized digital applications. This paper focusses on the development of a
In today’s business environment, the trend towards more product variety and customization is unbroken. Due to this development, the need of
methodology for the creation and implementation of digital production twins in single and small batch production companies.
© 2019
agile andThe Authors. Published
reconfigurable production by Elsevier
systems B.V.
emerged to cope with various products and product families. To design and optimize production
© 2020
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systemsis anThe
as Authors.
open
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article the
as to choose by
under Elsevier B.V. matches,
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optimal BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
product analysis methods are needed. Indeed, most of the known methods aim to
© 2019
This The
is aan Authors.
open access Published by Elsevier B.V.
Peer-review
analyze under
product onearticle
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product under the on
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committee
level. of (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
the 53rdproduct
Different CIRP Conference on Manufacturing
families, however, may differ Systems
largely in terms of the number and
This is an open
Peer-review access
under article under
responsibility of the CC BY-NC-ND
scientific license
committee (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
of the 53rd CIRP Conference on Manufacturing Systems
nature of components. This fact impedes an efficient comparison and choice of appropriate product family combinations for the production
Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 53rd CIRP Conference on Manufacturing Systems
Keywords:
system. A newSingle and small batch
methodology production;toIndustry
is proposed analyze4.0; Digitization;
existing Digital
products twin of their functional and physical architecture. The aim is to cluster
in view
these products in new assembly oriented product families for the optimization
Keywords: Single and small batch production; Industry 4.0; Digitization; Digital twin
of existing assembly lines and the creation of future reconfigurable
assembly systems. Based on Datum Flow Chain, the physical structure of the products is analyzed. Functional subassemblies are identified, and
a functional analysis is performed. Moreover, a hybrid functional and physical architecture graph (HyFPAG) is the output which depicts the
The methodology
similarity between product described
familiesinbythis paperdesign
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planners and and Asia
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406411721). Hence, evaluation
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a higher quality was still possible [4].a
preliminary status of a current research project (DFG, German companies with risen quality standards, whereas in the past,
©the
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results presented Published
here can bybeElsevier
seen asB.V.
preliminary results. Furthermore, shorter product life cycles and an increasing
Research Foundation – Project number: 406411721). Hence,
Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 28th CIRP
pure differentiation
Design for
Conference
via a higher quality was still possible [4].
2018. by customers reduce the time
the results presented here can be seen as preliminary results. demand individuality
Furthermore, shorter product life cycles and an increasing
1. Introduction available for
demand for manufacturing
individuality by evencustomers
more. Simultaneously,
reduce the time fast
Keywords: Assembly; Design method; Family identification
1. Introduction delivery times and a constant high quality
available for manufacturing even more. Simultaneously, fast standard are still
The single and small batch production is characterized by an taken for times
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a constant time-to-market is continuously
quality standard are still
average circulation of a maximum of 50 products
The single and small batch production is characterized by an per lot that is reduced considerably while the complexity
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10.1016/j.procir.2020.04.125
 Günther Schuh et al. / Procedia CIRP 93 (2020) 222–227
2 Günther Schuh, Christoph Kelzenberg, Jan Wiese, Niklas Kessler / Procedia CIRP 00 (2019) 000–000
In the age of digitization, successful completion of the value
creation process cannot take place without the use of a
supporting system landscape. The value creation process of
most single and small batch production companies does not
integrate a transparent and responsive system architecture.
According to figure 1, the comparison of output data with the
correspondingly provided data by the customer (e.g. regarding
new requirements for product functions) is currently carried out
with significant manual effort between isolated proprietary
systems. In addition to the high resource-consuming effort, the
manual data comparison generally has a high susceptibility to
errors and low transparency for the employees involved. In
order to establish a superior value creation process, especially
the developments of Industry 4.0 promise substantial potentials.
The term Industry 4.0 refers to the so-called fourth industrial
revolution, which assures a benefit for manufacturing
companies by means of digital networking [8]. In particular, the
production processes can be made more efficient by
systematically recording and processing data and by
consistently interlinking production resources and systems [9].
Generic process chain of single and small batch production
Distribution/
Product
development
Project
Engineering/
Design
Work
preparation
Mechanical
production
management
Manual data synchronization across the entire system landscape
Application PLM CAD FEM ERP
software
Raw data
Product
data
CAD
data
Simulation
data
Process
data
Machine
CAD
Series production Single and small batch production
PLM: Product lifecycle management CAD: Computer-aided design FEM: Finite element method
MES: Manufacturing execution system PDA: Production data acquisition CRM: Customer relationship management
Figure 1: Generic process chain of order fulfilment in single and small batch
production and manual data synchronization across system landscape
In order to successfully tackle the challenges mentioned
beforehand, it is essential for companies in single and small
batch production to improve their own value creation process
and thus ensure competitiveness [10]. For the purpose of
realizing the potentials of Industry 4.0, a reference architecture
for manufacturing companies, the Internet of Production, was
developed within the Cluster of Excellence of RWTH Aachen
University [11][12]. The architecture describes the aggregated
production life cycle, beginning with the development to the
application of a product in its user cycle. The concept of
Industry 4.0 creates a promising approach for addressing the
challenges, companies in single and small batch production
have to face. As an interim result of the Internet of Production,
the digital shadow is an essential precondition for generating a
digital process model [12]. Thus, the digital shadow serves as
an enabler for the creation of one or more digital twins, each
representing a specific object. Therefore, the focus of this paper
is to leverage existing challenges in single and small batch
production by developing a methodology for the creation and
implementation of one or more digital twins with respect to
manufacturing processes in single and small batch production.
223
2. Digital shadow and digital twin
Industry 4.0 turned out to be one of the strategic answers to
the challenges mentioned above [13]. Digitization of the
production, usage of cyber-physical production systems or
model based system development build the starting point to the
digital shadow and digital twin [14]. The digital shadow is
defined as a collection of generated data in the entire value
creation process, but also of people and products at every phase
of the life cycle [15]. Thus, the digital shadow can be described
as a sufficiently precise image of the processes in production,
development and related areas, creating a real-time evaluation
basis for all relevant data [16]. The purpose of the digital
shadow is to combine and interlink data from various sources
and to enable different real-time analyzes for decision making.
In this context, the description of the necessary data formats,
the data selection and the data granularity level are of central
importance [17].
Contrary to the digital shadow, the digital twin represents a
data model of a single asset (such as a product, machine,
service, product service
system or other intangible
Assembly Try-out
Series
production
assets), which makes its
properties, its status and its
behavior available in the
form of models, information
and data. Using process
MES PDA CRM CAQ
models or simulation, the
digital twin provides a
data
Feedback
data
Customer
data
Test
data
sufficiently accurate image
of a real product that is
created during the entire
ERP: Enterprise resource planning
value creation process [16]
CAQ: Computer-aided quality [18]. Therefore, the digital
twin is not a physical replica
but a realistic data model [17].
Thus, the main difference between the digital shadow and
digital twin is the scope. While the digital shadow refers to the
entire value creation process, the digital twin focuses on
specific objects and processes, such as a product or a machine
[19]. If the digital twin refers to an object in the manufacturing
process, it is called a digital production twin. A digital
production twin is capable of virtually depicting process
parameters, work processes and the product itself as part of its
manufacturing process. In this context, a digital production
twin offers the possibility of simulating and visualizing any
manufacturing process and logistic aspects from its individual
components to the whole product in detail. However, the digital
shadow in combination with a digital twin is still a target state.
Especially companies of single and small batch production
have not been able to holistically realize the existing potentials.
Major challenges in the realization of digital twins as an
advanced stage of digitization include e.g. insufficient financial
resources and high costs for new infrastructure, lack of real-
time capability of systems through manual and non-
standardized data acquisition, lack of implementation
knowledge as well as systematic approaches regarding the
execution of in-house Industry 4.0 and digitization projects
[20] [21].
224 Günther Schuh et al. / Procedia CIRP 93 (2020) 222–227
Günther Schuh, Christoph Kelzenberg, Jan Wiese, Niklas Kessler / Procedia CIRP 00 (2019) 000–000
3. Existing approaches for the creation of digital twins
To derive the specific requirements regarding an approach
for the creation of digital twins, the systematic and
interdisciplinary approach according to ULRICH is used [22].
This approach is characterized as integrative, open and
practical and focuses on the design, management and
development of purpose-oriented social and technical systems.
In this context, the approach is not to be understood as pure
theory, but as research following real problems. Accordingly,
those real problems are taken into account which affect the
companies of single and small batch production in real practice
and in accordance with the industry specific characteristics.
Thus, an approach for the creation of one or more digital twins
has to consider the following general requirements:
 Practicability
 Applicability
 Adaptability
First of all, the approach has to match requirements in terms
of practicability regarding the value creation process of single
and small batch production. This includes a high degree of
user-friendliness through simple application and economic
efficiency as most of the companies in that specific industry are
small and medium-sized and therefore only have limited
resources. Requirements regarding the applicability mainly
focus on the suitability of the approach for the processes in
single and small batch production as well as on individual
boundary conditions for the companies of this specific industry.
In addition, the approach must meet the requirements for
adaptability to ensure that it can be modified and extended for
the specific use case of the company. When it comes to
technical requirements regarding the company-specific system
architecture, IT-infrastructure and database, the approach
mainly has to consider the following specific requirements:
 Assessment of company-specific status quo
 Derivation of individual potentials
 Dimensioning of infrastructure and generation of database
An approach for the creation of digital twins in single and
small batch production has to take into consideration that
companies of that specific industry have different initial
situations. This applies to challenges and a specific target state
for digital twins as well as resources regarding their system
architectures, IT-infrastructure and machinery. In order to
ensure a systematic procedure for the creation of digital twins,
an approach must in particular consider the steps of assessing
the status quo, the derivation of company-specific potentials
and fields of action as well as the dimensioning of system
architecture, IT-infrastructure and database according to the
boundary conditions. Hereafter, the most suitable approaches
from literature regarding the topic of digital twins with focus
on their creation and their fields of application are presented.
ZHENG ET AL. developed the “Application framework of
digital twin”, which consists of a physical room, the
information processing layer and a virtual room [23]. The focus
lies explicitly on the realization of a digital production twin.
3
However, it does not take the unique character of the single and
small batch production and the individual boundary conditions
of companies in that specific industry into account.
VACHALEK ET AL. developed a technological concept
focusing on continuous optimization of production processes
by creating a digital twin of an industrial production line [24].
The concept focused on identifying the most efficient use of
resources by a digital twin. However, the concept only focusses
on the creation of a digital twin for one specific production line
of pneumatic cylinders and its optimization. It does not take the
specific requirements of single and small batch production, e.g.
lack of repetition, into account and can therefore not be used as
a systematic and practicable approach.
TAO AND ZHANG explored a new concept of a digital twin
shop-floor (DTS) and discussed its four key components,
including physical shop-floor, virtual shop-floor, shop-floor
service system and shop-flor digital twin data [25]. The focus
is mainly on the conception of the four key components and
K
their operation. While TAO AND ZHANG manage to describe
how each of the components has to be designed on a detailed
level, their concept lacks both the consideration of
characteristics of single and small batch production as well as
the individual initial situations and prerequisites of companies
from a methodological perspective.
TAO ET AL. developed a methodology for product design,
manufacturing and services driven by digital twins [26]. They
specifically investigate the application methods and boundary
conditions for the use of digital twins and develop three use
cases that illustrate future applications of digital twins. Once
more, the digital twin shop-floor and its four key components
are used for the conceptual design of digital twins in the
manufacturing process. In addition to a description of the
characteristics of each of these four key components, a
potential use case is presented. However, a systematic
approach to implementing the DTS is not explained.
Accordingly, the method does not take individual company
constraints with regard to existing system architecture and IT-
infrastructure into account, nor does it provide companies with
a comprehensible procedure for achieving the target status.
UHLEMANN ET AL. developed a concept for the
implementation of digital twins in production systems in small
and medium-sized companies [27]. For this purpose, they focus
on the composition of a database through a practically feasible
approach to a multi-modal data acquisition approach as well as
data evaluation. Thereby only the concept is presented, but not
specific technical solutions. The concept explicitly takes the
requirements of small and medium-sized enterprises as well as
data-relevant aspects in technical terms into account. However,
the special features of manufacturing in single and small
batches, e.g. regarding the lack of repetition or the machinery
for manufacturing processes, are not taken into account.
Moreover, a methodically practicable approach for assessing
the company-specific prerequisites and target states for the
creation and implementation of digital twins is also missing.
In a final comparison it can be stated that none of the
approaches fully meets the requirements for the realization of
a digital production twin in single and small batch production.
While some of the approaches presented have sufficiently
considered the specific technical requirements, none of the
 Günther Schuh et al. / Procedia CIRP 93 (2020) 222–227
4 Günther Schuh, Christoph Kelzenberg, Jan Wiese, Niklas Kessler / Procedia CIRP 00 (2019) 000–000
approaches fully matches the general requirements or takes
sufficient account of the characteristics of single and small
batch production. In addition, there is often a lack of a
methodical procedure that hinders companies to systematically
create digital twins according to their own requirements and
constraints. It can be concluded that a research deficit with
regard to a holistic implementation concept of a digital
production twin in single and small batch production is
existing. Hence, an approach that meets the requirements of
single and small batch production in order to implement a
digital production twin is presented in the following chapter.
4. Approach
In accordance with the need for action from theory and
practice outlined above, a methodology for implementing
digital production twins in single and small batch production is
developed in the following. It serves to match the boundary
conditions of single and small batch production and addresses
the specific requirements mentioned beforehand. In order to
ensure a holistic scope and applicability of the approach in
industrial practice, the St. Gallen Management Model of the
second generation is used as a regulatory framework for the
development of the approach [28] [29]. Based on the strategic
and operative layers of the St. Gallen Management Model, the
individual steps of the implementation concept are detailed and
synthesized afterwards.
It has to be stated that the implementation of digital
production twins in the single and small batch industry is as
individual as its products. Therefore, the methodology serves
as a sufficient guideline that provides a generic framework for
companies in single and small batch production.
4.1 Methodology for the implementation of digital
production twins in single and small batch production
The methodology for the implementation of one or more
digital production twins in single and small batch production
consists of five steps, two of which can be assigned to the
strategic and three to the operational layer. Therefore, the
normative layer does not apply in the methodology,
presupposing an already existing general corporate philosophy
in each company. In the strategic layer, targets as well as
necessary factors for reaching the target state of ensuring a
digital production twin are derived. This is based on the
company’s philosophy from the normative layer. In the
methodology, strategic management serves for the definition of
the company specific target state of one or more digital
production twins and the derivation of necessary requirements
for a corresponding architecture. The first two steps focus on
the conceptual design and represent the starting point for its
realization in the operational layer. The operational layer then
serves for the successive and step-by-step realization of the
defined target state by establishing the necessary requirements
and executing associated activities [30]. The results published
in this paper are an interim status of the currently active
research project. The individual steps of the methodology are
presented in the following and are displayed in figure 2.
225
Strategic Layer
1. Definition of target state
for digital production twin(s)
2. Derivation and dimensioning
of company specific architecture
Data
3. Development of required infrastructure
& embedding of physical assets
Operational Layer
4. Aggregation of data
to digital twin(s)
5. Operation of
analytics
Knowledge
Figure 2: Methodology for the implementation of digital production twins
in single and small batch production
As a first step, the target state of digital production twins has
to be defined in the individual company context depending on
the specific boundary conditions. Thereby, it has to be stated
which problems the digital production twins have to address in
specific and which benefits it shall generate. This also requires
the clarification of the information and data required to solve
the problem. In order to define and classify company specific
digital production twins, existing approaches such as the
morphological box developed by STARK ET AL. can be used
[30]. The morphological box serves as a guideline to the
definition and classification of company specific digital twins
into four different dimensions, representing the functions to
fulfill according to the required data quality. Exemplary, a
digital production twin can be used for real time monitoring of
the production and its assets, automatic detection and resolution
of dependencies in the production or for predictive maintenance
applications of production resources such as machines or tools.
After the definition of a company specific target state
regarding digital production twins, the IT-architecture has to be
derived and dimensioned in the second step of the
methodology. The derivation and dimensioning of the IT-
architecture is based on the definition of which data and
information is required in accordance with the target state
defined and classified beforehand. By terms of structure, the
exemplary target IT-architecture can be classified into the areas
production, backend and other linking elements that occur for
example in an individual production site. In the following, an
exemplary target picture of an IT-architecture is presented and
briefly explained. The exemplary IT-architecture is based on
the reference architecture Internet of Production and enables the
realization of its four different layers software and data,
middleware, smart data as well as smart expert [12].
The various data sources are integrated separately for
enterprise systems, assets such as machines, devices in the
context of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), human-
machine-interfaces (HMI) and other services such as web
services. Due to a high number of proprietary systems that are
often lacking open interfaces, the embedding by integrators is
particularly essential for single and small batch production
companies. Existing non IIoT-capable assets must be embedded
via integrators in the same way as for enterprise systems. This
226 Günther Schuh et al. / Procedia CIRP 93 (2020) 222–227
Günther Schuh, Christoph Kelzenberg, Jan Wiese, Niklas Kessler / Procedia CIRP 00 (2019) 000–000
will convert proprietary interfaces and protocols into
standardized and open communication. It also enables the strict
use of semantically enriched data. This allows other computer
systems to process data formats unknown to them. Existing
sensors and actuators can also be embedded via integrators. For
newly purchased devices, the integration of open standards,
sensors and actuators is required. Applications with the purpose
of visualization, monitoring, optimization and configuration of
the devices can be performed at different locations on different
output devices, depending on the goals of the company, using
the backend and production data. The backend provides cross-
location functions for data storage, processing and analysis. It
enables the optimization of the value creation process through
application of data analytics. In many cases, companies of
single and small batch production are small and medium-sized
and only have limited resources at their disposal. Therefore, the
separation of the backend from the rest of the architecture
enables companies to concentrate on using IT service providers.
By providing them necessary data, the company itself does not
need to build up capacities and competencies in the field of data
science [27]. Real-time data can be sent to applications and
stored in the backend via a distributed messaging system in real
time. These security elements are also needed between the
assets, so that a separation of the productive systems of the
production control and those of the analysis is possible.
The operational layer starts with the third step of the
methodology, the development of the required infrastructure
and the embedding of physical assets. On the basis of the
defined system architecture which is necessary to implement
one or more digital production twins, the existing infrastructure
is firstly compared with the infrastructure required to achieve
the target state. The discrepancy is then successively reduced
by reviewing and selecting possible modules. These include for
example capacities for computation in order to analyze and
process data. Other modules of the infrastructure are for
instance internet access for all relevant objects, machines and
devices for the later provision of applications, capacities for
data storage and, if the data processing of the processes along
the value chain has not yet been digitized, enterprise systems.
After the comparison of the existing and required infrastructure,
appropriate measures can be derived and the modules can be
implemented. As part of the third step, the embedding of
physical assets into virtual world has to be conducted in order
to utilize the infrastructure. As single and small batch
production is dominated by small and medium enterprises with
limited resources, a low-cost and simple possibility of
integrating older assets is particularly relevant - this can be
ensured using integrators. A specific example for the
embedding of assets is the equipping of an older milling
machine with an acceleration sensor in order to improve the
data basis for the evaluation of machine performance.
In the fourth step of the methodology, the aggregation of
data to one or more digital twins is conducted by merging and
structuring of the data artifacts and their enrichment with
algorithms, thus, the creation of digital twins. This describes the
development and modification of software on existing
infrastructure to control information flows. It enables the data
to be integrated along the life cycle of an asset. The object-wise
connection of the data artifacts and the data flows take place
5
through the use of software in existing infrastructure. Examples
include the aggregation of data for the monitoring of assets,
interacting digital twins in simulation environments and an
automated exchange across locations and companies. The
aggregation of digital twins is highly complex and may not be
underestimated, as it also depends on the knowledge of the
employees [31]. Most of the employees on the shop floor of
companies in single and small batch production do not have
data science competencies, but due to their expert knowledge,
they must be involved in the creation of the digital twins.
Therefore, graphical editors can be provided on the shop floor.
These allow the connection of data artifacts with behavioral
algorithms and assets like real production machines. Before
these are integrated, they can be examined by experts from IT
or data science. This approach enables the usage of the expert
knowledge of both domains, in order to reduce costly and error
prone problems of communication and understanding.
The last step of the methodology is the operation of analytics
in order to optimize processes in value creation. In general, the
methods of analytics can be distinguished into descriptive,
diagnostic, predictive and prescriptive [32]. In this context, the
operation of data analytics is based on the procedure model
Cross-Cross-Industry Standard Process for Data Mining
(CRISP-DM), which is an iterative process with the aim of
preparing data, creating and learning of models, evaluation and
application of models [33]. With the modeling types and
algorithms of the individual stages, applications such as the
recognition of dependency patterns during production,
predictions for the workload and decision recommendations for
automatic reordering of production resources can be
implemented. The continuous application of data analytics
methods enables the useful transformation of data and
information into knowledge and allows both processes and
digital twins to be optimized iteratively.
5. Evaluation
The methodology for the implementation of one or more
digital production twins in single and small batch production
fulfills all the requirements derived through the application of
ULRICH’S approach of applied research [22]. The requirements
regarding the practicability of the approach can be ensured,
among other things, by aligning it with the regulatory
framework of the practice-proven St. Gallen Management
Model. The differentiation between strategic and operational
layers ensures that the approach can be applied according to the
company-specific requirements. The methodical approach also
provides a high degree of user and application friendliness
through its step-by-step structure. At the same time, the step-
by-step structure allows the user to run through the
methodology according to his own requirements, so that
economic efficiency can also be guaranteed. Thus, the
applicability is ensured and company-specific prerequisites,
boundary conditions and objectives are taken into account by
the holistic structure of the methodology. This makes the
approach suitable for application in single and small batch
production by taking into account the industry-specific
characteristics in terms of resources and, for example,
employee competencies. Due to the modular design, the
 Günther Schuh et al. / Procedia CIRP 93 (2020) 222–227
6 Günther Schuh, Christoph Kelzenberg, Jan Wiese, Niklas Kessler / Procedia CIRP 00 (2019) 000–000
approach can be extended and modified depending on the
application context. Accordingly, the approach fulfills the
requirements of adaptability and, thus, all of the general
requirements.
The specific technical requirements can also be met by the
approach. Especially within the first two steps, a systematic
assessment of the initial situation of the company is carried out.
Based on the status quo, areas of action and potential are first
derived and then a target state is defined according to the
individual classification of the digital twins. This ensures that
the further procedure for the application can be carried out
systematically and individually. At the same time, this is the
basis for dimensioning the system architecture and IT infra-
structure for the generation of a sufficient database. Further-
more, the paper focuses on the dimensioning of the system
architecture and the infrastructure required. By the application
of these steps, it can be ensured that companies meet the
necessary requirements in terms of system architecture, IT
infrastructure and database to create digital twins. The further
course of the methodology also focuses on the specific
generation of twins through the aggregation of data as well as
the operationalization of the obtained database by the
application of data analytics.
6. Summary and Outlook
This paper deals with the derivation of an implementation
methodology for the creation of one or more digital production
twins in the single and small batch production. It is based on the
St. Gallen Management Model, thus creating a clear and
applicable guideline for companies. However, it can neither
offer nor define a unified digital production twin due to the
individual characteristics of each twin. The methodology
provides a sufficient and generic framework, which allows
companies to exploit the potentials of digitization of the value
creation process through the creation of digital twins. The
methodology enables companies of single and small batch
production to enhance their value creation process and
differentiate from their competitors. The individual and
modular system allows companies that are lacking resources
and experience to make use of the benefits digitization in the
manufacturing process offers. Furthermore, the approach
allows companies with limited resources to achieve Industry
4.0 and data analytics maturity degrees through the possibility
of selective and/or iterative application.
The presented results are intermediate results of an ongoing
research project. There is still need for further research,
especially regarding the collection and utilization of required
data, the aggregation of digital twins and the involvement of
employees without competencies in data science.
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