SMART MANUFACTURING
DEVELOPING SMART FACTORIES OF THE FUTURE WITH DIGITAL TWINS
Speaking to Siemens ’ Simon Keogh , we look at the future of smart factories and the role digital twins will play in this
WRITTEN BY : GEORGIA WILSON
Put simply , “ a smart factory is a connected factory ,” says Simon Keogh , General Manager , Factory Automation at Siemens Digital Industries . “ You have complete data flow and integrated workflows from raw material input to finished goods production , and from shop floor to stakeholder coverage .
“ The smart factory is really using that connected environment to maximise flexibility , and the productivity of the plant through use of data , through the use of digital twins and a constant optimisation , which in some instances we are talking about self-optimisation - but there is still a way to go to achieve this in most manufacturing environments .”
Digital Twins : A complete Virtual Representation of Your Production Plant , Products and Machines Providing manufacturers with the capabilities to experience a virtual representation of their production plants or products , “ the digital twin is an incredibly important part of a smart factory ,” says Keogh . “ It enables a manufacturer to overlay in that virtual environment many of the physical attributes that exist in the physical plant . This is really to maximise the simulation to make it as realistic as possible and to enable the optimisation of the most finite capabilities .”
“ Digital twins also provide a virtual closedloop system whereby manufacturers can 62 October 2021