Digital twins for the manufacturing sector amidst the twin transition : prospects for enhancing environmental sustainability and business competitiveness

Abstract

Manufacturing sector companies are under pressure to develop and renew their business to maintain competitiveness. Thorough management of sustainability issues, particularly the environmental side, is increasingly essential and strongly requested by markets and stakeholders. Simultaneously, companies must adapt to the progressing digital transformation, such as the increasing demand for digital and data-based features and service-based solutions. Succeeding in these attempts requires efforts and assistance from various innovations and technologies, such as digital twins.

This dissertation discusses digital twins’ benefits and prospects for the manufacturing sector amidst the twin transition. The research investigates how companies can benefit from these solutions in their business, particularly with regard to development and renewal endeavours. More specifically, the research explores how digital twins can contribute to environmental sustainability and business competitiveness and what types of competences, resources, and other requirements these solutions demand. Empirical data collection followed a qualitative approach consisting of three thematic, semistructured interview series, a Delphi survey, and focus group discussions with manufacturing sector companies. The study resulted in four publications.

The study recognised digital twins as potentially valuable in striving for a balance of environmental sustainability, digital transformation, and business competitiveness. Among the main benefits are continuous business development and more controlled business renewal. Digital twins can enable enhanced solutions and production processes, complement existing solution portfolios with enhanced or more comprehensive solutions, and assist in establishing new business directions, such as data-based business focusing on services and collaborative value creation. The obtained findings about the necessary competences, resources, and other requirements can guide companies in their digital twin implementations. In addition to the benefits and advantages, the dissertation discusses the challenges and barriers associated with digital twins.