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Case Studies and Economics
The importance of examining case studies and economics for digital twins (DTs) is essential for their transition from research concepts to indispensable industrial assets. Case studies provide the crucial, real-world evidence—such as those detailing the implementation of DTs for robot systems or specific manufacturing processes—that demonstrates technical feasibility, documents lessons learned, and verifies performance metrics. Simultaneously, rigorous economic analysis is necessary to justify the often-substantial investment required for DT adoption, which is especially important for small-to-medium manufacturers. Evaluating the cost-effectiveness, calculating the potential return-on-investment (ROI), and quantifying the predicted economic impact transforms anecdotal success into a robust business case, driving broader industrial adoption and guiding public and private investment strategies. Presented below are NIST efforts to examine case studies and economics related to DTs.
- IEEE: Data Requirements for A Digital Twin of A Robot Workcell
- D. Kibira and G. Shao. (2023). "Data Requirements for A Digital Twin of A Robot Workcell." Winter Simulation Conference (WSC), San Antonio, TX, USA, 2023, pp. 3272-3283, doi: 10.1109/WSC60868.2023.10408428. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10408428
- Digital Twins for Robot Systems in Manufacturing
- Malik, A. , Shao, G. and Tarakhovsky, J. (2024). "Digital Twins for Robot Systems in Manufacturing, Digital Twins, Simulation, and Metaverse." Springer. https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=957479
- Use Case Scenarios for Digital Twin Implementation Based on ISO 23247
- Shao, G. (2021). Use Case Scenarios for Digital Twin Implementation Based on ISO 23247. NIST Advanced Manufacturing Series 400-2. National Institute of Standards and Technology. https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.AMS.400-2
- A Digital Twin Implementation Architecture for Wire + Arc Additive Manufacturing Based on ISO 23247
- Kim, Duck Bong, Shao,Guodong, Jo, Guejong. (2022). "A digital twin implementation architecture for wire + arc additive manufacturing based on ISO 23247." Manufacturing Letters, Volume 34, Pages 1-5, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mfglet.2022.08.008
- A Case Study of Digital Twin for a Manufacturing Process Involving Human Interactions
- Latif, H. H., Shao, G., & Starly, B. (2020). "A Case Study of Digital Twin for a Manufacturing Process Involving Human Interactions." 2020 Winter Simulation Conference (WSC), 1029–1040. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/9383897
- Adaptation of ISO 23247 to Aerospace Digital Twin Applications—On-Orbit Collision Avoidance and Space-Based Debris Detection
- Shtofenmakher, A., & Shao, G. (2024). "Adaptation of ISO 23247 to Aerospace Digital Twin Applications—On-Orbit Collision Avoidance and Space-Based Debris Detection." AIAA SCITECH 2024 Forum. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2024-0275
- IEEE: Building a Digital Twin of a CNC Machine Tool
- D. Kibira, G. Shao, R. Venketesh and M. J. Triebe. (2024). "Building a Digital Twin of a CNC Machine Tool." 2024 Winter Simulation Conference (WSC), Orlando, FL, USA, 2024, pp. 2915-2926, doi: 10.1109/WSC63780.2024.10838819. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/10838819
- Economics of Digital Twins: Costs, Benefits, and Economic Decision Making
- Thomas, D. (2024). Economics of Digital Twins: Costs, Benefits, and Economic Decision Making. NIST Advanced Manufacturing Series 100-61. National Institute of Standards and Technology. Report: https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.AMS.100-61 and Website: https://www.nist.gov/el/applied-economics-office/manufacturing/topics-manufacturing/digital-twins