54% of Condition-based Monitoring Systems Will Feed into Digital Twins by 2026
September 20, 2017 | ABI ResearchEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
A digital twin is a virtual model of a process, product or service that is used to detect issues, test, and simulate scenarios on the physical model. Digital twin technology is a game changer for the manufacturing industry. In a recent B2B technology survey, ABI Research finds that while only 4% of manufacturing companies currently have digital twins in operation, a further 83% have at least started to investigate the technology and 29% are planning to trial it within the next 12 months. Current common condition-based monitoring produces only low-quality data, but digital twin simulations can provide quick, accurate insights for what is happening inside machines. Digital twin technology has advanced to ‘digital mastery’ as the digital twin models lead to decisions that affect the physical twin.
“The idea of pairing technology has existed for decades,” says Pierce Owen, Principal Analyst at ABI Research. “Now, machine learning, advanced physics-based simulations, and CAD modelling have expanded the advantages of digital twins to benefit use cases in all industries with high value or mission critical assets.”
Condition-based monitoring connections will grow in the top countries for manufacturing with a CAGR of 24%. As time goes on, a higher percentage of these connections will feed into digital twins, from about 3% in 2016 to about 54% in 2026. Digital twins will minimize down-time and increase efficiency to add billions of U.S. dollars-worth of manufacturing value. Many manufacturers hope to use the IIoT to deepen relationships with customers by alerting them before maintenance is needed and then provide that maintenance. For instance, GE Aviation manages digital twins of all its new jet engines as a service, helping airlines optimize flight and maintenance schedules. GE has built its digital twins offerings on top of its IIoT platform, Predix. Similarly, PTC and Siemens have built their digital twins offerings on Thingworx and Mindsphere.
The popular idea of a digital twins focuses on the basis of CAD 3D modelling, but many of the capabilities of digital twins do not truly require this visual, as long as sensors on the physical object capture data about its condition and position and feed into the digital twin via some form of IoT connection. Although, exact 3D digital twins do exist and GE Digital, National Instruments, PTC and SAP all offer some form of this concept.
“Like industrial cloud platforms, adoption of digital twins has yet to meet its growth potential. Manufacturers have to consider many moving pieces, from what to do at the edge vs. the cloud to simple ROI. They must try to take advantage of this opportunity to optimize asset performance without over-complicating simple operations,” concludes Owen.
Suggested Items
Real Time with… IPC APEX EXPO 2024: Tools, Training, and Trends in Manufacturing Engineering
04/25/2024 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOGuest Editor Kelly Dack and Product Specialist Erik Bateham of Polar Instruments discuss Polar's latest technology, including their role in aiding manufacturing engineers. They highlight the advanced capabilities of Polar's tools and the critical role of signal integrity analysis, as well as the importance of accurate modeling in board manufacturing. Polar's unique training approach and demonstration contact details are also explored.
TTM Celebrates the Grand Opening of Its First Manufacturing Facility in Penang
04/25/2024 | TTM Technologies, Inc.TTM Technologies, Inc., a leading global manufacturer of technology solutions including mission systems, radio frequency (RF) components and RF microwave/microelectronic assemblies, and quick-turn and technologically advanced printed circuit boards (PCBs), officially opened its first manufacturing plant in Penang, Malaysia with an investment of USD200 million (approximately RM958 million).
Listen Up! The Intricacies of PCB Drilling Detailed in New Podcast Episode
04/25/2024 | I-Connect007In episode 5 of the podcast series, On the Line With: Designing for Reality, Nolan Johnson and Matt Stevenson continue down the manufacturing process, this time focusing on the post-lamination drilling process for PCBs. Matt and Nolan delve into the intricacies of the PCB drilling process, highlighting the importance of hole quality, drill parameters, and design optimization to ensure smooth manufacturing. The conversation covers topics such as drill bit sizes, aspect ratios, vias, challenges in drilling, and ways to enhance efficiency in the drilling department.
Elevating PCB Design Engineering With IPC Programs
04/24/2024 | Cory Blaylock, IPCIn a monumental stride for the electronics manufacturing industry, IPC has successfully championed the recognition of the PCB Design Engineer as an official occupation by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). This pivotal achievement not only underscores the critical role of PCB design engineers within the technology landscape, but also marks the beginning of a transformative journey toward nurturing a robust, skilled workforce ready to propel our industry into the future.
Fujitsu, METRON Collaborate to Drive ESG Success
04/24/2024 | JCN NewswireFujitsu Limited and METRON SAS, a French cleantech company specializing in energy management solutions for industrial decarbonization, today announced a strategic initiative to contribute to the realization of carbon neutrality in the manufacturing industry.