Industrial Digital Twin Association: standardisation of the digital twin for Industry 4.0

The Industrial Digital Twin Association (IDTA) is a consortium of companies from different industrial sectors that share the goal of a standardised digital twin. In recent years, the relevance of the digital twin has increased significantly, owing to the concept of Industry 4.0.

Industry is facing the great challenge of developing a manufacturer-independent standard with global appeal. At a first glance, linking physical objects with the digital world seems to be no problem, yet implementation and the globalisation of the standard require a great deal of specialist know-how. The development of a standard for the digital twin is a key milestone in product development for ifm.

The bridge to seamless collaboration in the value chain

The IDTA asset administration shell (AAS) is the consortium’s most important tool. All the data and functions of an asset, from features through parameters to capabilities, are defined in the administration shell. The administration shell acts as a standardised interface for the integration of data and functions in Industry 4.0 applications, and it enables seamless collaboration between various stakeholders and systems in the value chain.

The digital twin as the central element of the digital value chain

The digital twin is the link between physical objects and the digital world. The virtual image enables effective monitoring, control and optimisation in real time. At the same time, digital twin technology, combined with a global open source solution, offers the possibility of end-to-end data availability. Making processes more efficient reduces costs and effort. The administration shell and the associated digital twin are a key part of Industry 4.0, contributing to the creation of intelligent, interconnected and automated production environments.