Some would say we are in the midst of the next industrial revolution, and for logistics providers and other supply chain managers looking to keep their processes on track and operating efficiently, predictive optimization advancements are priority. The slightest supply chain interruption can impact an entire process, and this is why digital twin technology is so exciting: It makes it possible to not only address, but actually prevent potential disruptions and keep supply chains as productive as possible.
Digital twins are defined as the virtual copy of a product, structure, facility, or system. Digital twins are perhaps most commonly used by manufacturers to monitor equipment performance and prevent costly unplanned breakdowns. However, they can also be used by logistics providers to address the most common logistics problems: visibility, variability, and velocity.
Jacksonville, Florida-based Beaver Street Fisheries, for instance, uses a range of devices to monitor and record a product’s temperature in real-time throughout the cold chain and issue an alert if the temperature is out of tolerance. If the temperature begins to rise, someone can be contacted to check on the shipment. This ensures that safe, quality products are delivered and saves Beaver Street Fisheries from needing to replace compromised shipments. In this case, digital twins help boost visibility and response time to variations in temperature.
Gartner outlines four best practices for implementing digital twins: 1) involve the entire product value chain; 2) establish well-documented practices for constructing and modifying the models; 3) include data from multiple sources; and 4) ensure long access life cycles.
With the right approach, logistics providers that choose to implement digital twins can potentially unlock product quality improvements, more efficient operations, service savings and more. They just have to be willing to embrace the change and keep up with the latest digital trends.