Using Discrete Event Simulation as a Step Towards Creating a Digital Twin

Abstract

With Industry 4.0 emerging as the trend that is taking over the manufacturing industry, there is a rapidly increasing demand for industries to turn towards digital ization. The digital twin is a concept that has come to the forefront of digitalized systems and is supported by research that validates the advantages it can yield in the manufacturing industry. With research focusing on the abilities, advantages and disadvantages that digital twins possess, there seems to be a scarcity of focus in terms of the means to establish a digital twin. This thesis work proposes a method ology which identifies a step-by-step procedure for establishing digital twins. This methodology was built with reference to the digital twin levels of maturity which elaborate on the evolution of a digital twin from conception to an ideal state. The focus also lies on understanding how discrete event simulation can be used as a tool to support the process of establishing a digital twin. The proposed methodology was implemented in an industrial case study. The case study focused on building a simulation model of one of the production systems in focus. The simulation model was designed in order to support the first step in the evolution of a digital twin. The findings from this case study were then evaluated in order to determine the reliability of the proposed methodology for establishing digital twins.