Prior to the commencement of construction on BMW's new factory in Debrecen, Hungary, a complete "digital twin" had already been developed, encompassing the entire plant, including its construction, production lines, and human work processes. The creation of this digital model, to which T-Systems supplied the entire digital infrastructure, was part of an integrated ecosystem of digital twins designed to reduce the time from conception to the final factory.
BMW’s investment of two billion EUR in this Hungarian factory was part of a broader effort to improve production efficiency. The factory is expected to produce around 150,000 electric cars annually, and using digital twins would allow the optimization of construction and the testing of innovative concepts before physical production facilities are established. The German car manufacturer anticipates its production planning will be 30% more efficient with the new tools.
An essential aspect is the ability to work seamlessly within a single platform. In the case of BMW, over 40 IT systems have been integrated into NVIDIA Omniverse. This powerful platform, developed by NVIDIA, allows designers, engineers, and architects to collaborate to create and simulate photorealistic 3D environments in real time.
In many companies, one of the biggest challenges is breaking down silos when working across departments and professional groups. This also applies to data. A unified data model that can be collaboratively worked on is a huge advantage. It makes collaboration and virtual simulations of business processes much more manageable.
Different professional groups can experiment with product development, factory planning, and the layout of the entire production flow. This way, effective and faster decisions can be made, allowing for the optimization of energy consumption and thereby working more sustainably.
As a starting point, it's about a series of well-known technologies, each contributing to binding data from companies' IT systems together in a new way, so data can work together.
The new digital solutions can be used for large construction projects and to optimize existing facilities. A good example is Deutsche Bahn, which has extensively digitalized the German railway network. This includes creating a digital twin model of 5,700 stations and the 33,000 km of tracks in the network.
One of the goals is to improve safety, operate driverless trains, increase the capacity of the existing railway network, and reduce costs and CO2 emissions in the transport sector. The work has been ongoing for several years, and it is expected that the first driverless trains will be tested in 2026 by the Germans.
The term 'The Industrial Metaverse' is often used in various industries but does not refer to a specific technology. Instead, it represents a collection of well-known technologies, each contributing to integrating data from companies' IT systems in a new way, allowing data to collaborate effectively.
Many companies already utilize cloud computing, 3D models, and data analysis. However, when connections are established between all devices and existing systems are integrated, companies can leverage artificial intelligence to automate parts of their operations and gain competitive advantages.
It's important to note that an Industrial Metaverse is not a one-size-fits-all solution. The process of creating a scalable digital twin of a business is intricate and multifaceted, requiring the utilization of multiple technologies and data sources. This complexity underscores the need for expert guidance and support in this transformative journey.
The company's data is the starting point, sourced from various software solutions that optimize business processes, including ERP, CRM, MES systems, or other data sources.
Many different data sources need to be integrated into a single platform. At the same time, the complex work of defining use cases and the value they create for the company must begin. There are many applications - from production to logistics, visualization of infrastructure, scientific data, and much more. Involving experts who can help with all the heavy elements can be beneficial.
On the other hand, ROI is significant and exponential when it succeeds. There is enormous potential in the Industrial Metaverse because it enables new forms of collaboration, faster product development, automation, and thereby cost savings. At the same time, it ensures better opportunities for preventive maintenance while working on new customer experiences. in summary, the Industrial Metaverse ensures much better competitiveness.
Download our inspirational whitepaper, produced in collaboration with NVIDIA, for free here. Learn more about Industrial Metaverse, how it works, and the benefits it can provide your organization.
This blog is based on a news article in the Danish business media Børsen.
