Digital Twins in Industry

Digital Twins in Industry is a compilation of works by authors with specific emphasis on industrial applications. Much of the research on digital twins has been conducted by the academia in both theoretical considerations and laboratory-based prototypes. Industry, while taking the lead on larger scale implementations of Digital Twins (DT) using sophisticated software, is concentrating on dedicated solutions that are not within the reach of the average-sized industries. This book covers 11 chapters of various implementations of DT. It provides an insight for companies who are contemplating the adaption of the DT technology, as well as researchers and senior students in exploring the potential of DT and its associated technologies

Dynamics of Long-Life Assets: From Technology Adaptation to Upgrading the Business Model

Knowledge management; Business information system

Reframing the value of virtual prototyping: Intermediary virtual prototyping - the evolving approach of virtual environments based virtual prototyping in the context of new product development and low volume production

This thesis studies how the evolving approach of virtual environments-based virtual prototyping can be evaluated in the context of product design and development in the manufacturing industry. The entry point for this research is the relatively long experience in applied research in virtual prototyping with industry. As the virtual prototyping technology has become more mature, the focus of research and development has extended from technology demonstrations towards utilization in product design and development processes. However, lack of scientific and practical knowledge of real benefits and the value of virtual prototyping has seemed to be a deterrent to its wider adoption of industry. The aim of this thesis is by means of scientific research to increase the knowledge of the value contribution of virtual prototyping as well as its impacts in a practical industrial context.This problem was approached from the science base by formulating an expanded theory framework for value modelling, and from the problem base by an empirical case study in one manufacturing company. The research approach was constructive and exploratory.The research results consist of three types of knowledge. Firstly, the scientific theoretical foundation was elaborated for initiating value modelling of virtual prototyping and virtual environments. Secondly, new knowledge on the value of virtual prototyping within new product development was created in an industrial case study. Finally, knowledge on how virtual prototyping (VP) impacts the company was reported. The impact was discussed in the dimensions of process, social and technological implications.This research contributed to engineering design science by conceptualizing virtual prototyping in the context of product design and development expanding to the dimensions of human factors and management theory. Thus, the contribution is also manifested by constructing the expanded theory framework for virtual prototyping value modelling in four dimensions with causal justification from virtual reality technology to business value elements which led to the new concept of Intermediary Virtual Prototyping (IVP). The discussed concept of IVP underscores the many layers from technical advantages of virtual reality to the expanded mediating object of product development activity system.The discussion was carried on from the perspective of a partially configurable products and manual work-intensive variant production mode. This perspective is novel compared to the majority of virtual prototyping and virtual environments literature. It is proposed that IVP is particularly beneficial in this context, where human skills and knowledge contribute to the flexibility of production system.IVP should be considered as a strategic investment that will produce income in the long run. IVP contributes to the co-creation and variant production paradigms by involving human creativity at an early product design and development phase, thus increasing flexibility. IVP creates value in use, but in turn it impacts the company in all the four dimensions mentioned

Dynamics of Long-Life Assets: From Technology Adaptation to Upgrading the Business Model

The editors present essential methods and tools to support a holistic approach to the challenge of system upgrades and innovation in the context of high-value products and services. The approach presented here is based on three main pillars: an adaptation mechanism based on a broad understanding of system dependencies; efficient use of system knowledge through involvement of actors throughout the process; and technological solutions to enable efficient actor communication and information handling.The book provides readers with a better understanding of the factors that influence decisions, and put forward solutions to facilitate the rapid adaptation to changes in the business environment and customer needs through intelligent upgrade interventions. Further, it examines a number of sample cases from various contexts including car manufacturing, utilities, shipping and the furniture industry. The book offers a valuable resource for both academics and practitioners interested in the upgrading of capital-intensive products and services

Ergonomic Simulation Revisited Using Parametric Virtual Humans in the Biomechanical Framework

The conventional CAD/CAM approach to design does not show the essential spatial relationships between user and product that are crucial for intuitive design analysis. As populations age and the home appliance market stagnates, Universal Design principles implemented with computerized virtual worlds become more important for meeting the ergonomic problems of heterogeneous populations that are increasingly difficult to adequately test with real-world subjects. Digital Human Modelling (DHM) is an emerging area that bridges computer-aided engineering design, human factors engineering and applied ergonomics. The most advanced forms of this technology are being used by many researchers for practical applications, including ergonomic analysis. However, a state of the art model of this technology has never been conceived for the conceptual design stage of a product development cycle as most conventional DHM techniques lack real time interaction, require considerable user intervention, and have inefficient control facilities and non-adequate validation techniques, all contributing to slow production pipelines. They have also not addressed the needs of the growing ageing population in many societies across the globe. The focus of this dissertation is to introduce a complete framework for ergonomic simulation at the conceptual design stage of a product development cycle based on parametric virtual humans in a prioritized inverse kinematics framework while taking biomechanical knowledge in to account. Using an intuitive control facility, design engineers can input a simple CAD model, design variables and human factors in to the system. The evaluation engine generates the required simulation in real-time by making use of an Anthropometric Database, Physical Characteristic Database and Prioritized Inverse Kinematics architecture. The key components of the total system are described and the results are demonstrated with a few applications such as kitchen, wash-basin and bath-tub. By introducing a quantitative estimation of ageing algorithm for anthropometric digital human models, products can be designed from the start to suit the ergonomic needs of the user rather than the biases and assumptions of the designer. Also, by creating a tool that can be used intuitively by non-specialists in a dynamic, real-time environment, designers can stop relying on specialists to test the safety of their ideas and start to effectively use data about populations to discover designs that can be used more easily by more people. Results have been validated with real human subjects indicating the practical implication of the total system as an ergonomic design tool for the conceptual design stage of a product development cycle

The role of revision in english-spanish software localization

La tasca principal d'aquest projecte d'investigació empírica és explorar el procés de revisió en la traducció de la interfície de tres pogramas de programari desenvolupats per Siemens PLM Software Inc Centrarem la nostra atenció especialment en el paper dels revisors locals de l'idioma espanyol com una de els actors principals de les versions localitzades. L'equip format per traductors de plantilla i de revisors locals s'ha convertit en un tema d'interès per als investigadors, els professors de llengua i els professionals de la traducció. La revisió de la traducció és cada vegada més rellevant en l'ambient de la localització de programari. Les principals preguntes de recerca en aquest projecte són: La versió en espanyol és una fidel traducció del text escrit en anglès? Per què alguns clients mexicans prefereixen utilitzar les aplicacions de programari en idioma anglès? Per avaluar si la traducció i la funcionalitat de la interfície de les tres aplicacions eren apropiades, es va realitzar una extensa anàlisi lingüístic de seixanta segments de text extrets de les tres aplicacions traduïdes i revisades per traductors interns i revisors locals, respectivament. En segon lloc, un selecte grup de clients i usuaris de parla hispana de les aplicacions de Siemens completi un qüestionari d'avaluació electrònica. I per entendre millor les preferències d'idioma dels clients mexicans, es va realitzar una anàlisi lingüístic d'una sèrie d'informes de problemes presentats pels usuaris de les aplicacions durant sis mesos. L'anàlisi de les dades indica que els errors de traducció i el llenguatge es van corregir durant l'etapa de revisió. Les proves dels instruments de l'enquesta suggereix que la versió localitzada de la interfície d'usuari es llegeix amb fluïdesa i naturalitat. No obstant això, es va trobar que la principal diferència estadística entre la font i el text de destinació en el nombre dels errors funcionals. Per aquesta raó, alguns usuaris de parla hispana en realitat canviar a la versió en anglès dels productes de programari. I, finalment, l'evidència dels informes de problemes suggereix que el nombre d'Informe de problemes és baix durant el període de temps determinat i que no hi ha cap crítica per qüestions funcionals.La tarea principal de este proyecto de investigación empírica es explorar el proceso de revisión en la traducción de la interfaz de tres pogramas de software desarrollados por Siemens PLM Software Inc. Centraremos nuestra atención en el papel de los revisores locales del idioma español como una de los actores principales de las versiones localizadas. El equipo formado por traductores de plantilla y de revisores locales se ha convertido en un tema de interés para los investigadores, los profesores de idioma y los profesionales de la traducción. La revisión de la traducción es cada vez más relevante en el ambiente de la localización de software. Las principales preguntas de investigación: ¿La versión en español es una fiel traducción del texto escrito en inglés? ¿Por qué algunos clientes mexicanos prefieren utilizar las aplicaciones de software en idioma inglés? Para evaluar si la traducción y la funcionalidad de la interfaz de las tres aplicaciones eran apropiadas, se realizó un extenso análisis linguístico de sesenta segmentos de texto extraídos de las tres aplicaciones traducidas y revisadas por traductores internos y revisores locales, respectivamente. En segundo lugar, un selecto grupo de clientes y usuarios de habla hispana de las aplicaciones completó un cuestionario electrónico. Y se realizó un análisis linguístico de una serie de informes de problemas presentados por los usuarios de las aplicaciones durante seis meses. El análisis demuestra que los errores de traducción y el lenguaje se corrigieron durante la etapa de revisión. Los resultados de la encuesta sugieren que la versión localizada de la interfaz se lee fluida y naturalmente. Sin embargo, se determinó que la principal diferencia estadística entre el texto de partida y el texto de llegada es el número de errores funcionales. Por esta razón, algunos usuarios de habla hispana prefieren utilizar la versión en inglés de los productos de software. Y, finalmente, el análisis de los informes de problemas linguísticos indica que el número fue bajo durante el periodo de tiempo determinado y que no hubo ninguna crítica por cuestiones funcionales.The main task of this empirical research project is to explore the Spanish translation revision/review process of three software solutions developed by Siemens PLM Software Inc. We will focus our attention especially on the role of Spanish in-country reviewers or revisers as one of the main agents for localized output. The in-house translator and in-country reviewer team is emerging as a concept of interest to researchers, l and translation practitioners. Translation revision efforts are becoming increasingly more relevant in a software localization scenario. The main research questions in this project are: Does the Spanish version communicate what the English does? Why do some Mexican customers prefer to use the English-language software applications? To evaluate the language appropriateness and functionality of the user interface of the PLM software products in the Spanish-localized versions, we conducted a detailed language evaluation of sixty UI segments translated and revised by in-house translators and in-country reviewers respectively. The data analysis indicates that translation and language errors were corrected during the revision stage. Furthermore, an electronic assessment questionnaire was completed by a select group of Siemens PLM software Spanish-speaking customers. The evidence from the survey instruments suggests that the localized version of the user interface reads fluently and naturally. However, the main statistical difference between the source and the target text was found in the number of functional errors. For this reason, some Spanish-speaking end-users actually switch to the English version of the software solutions. And finally, to further understand the Mexican customers’ language preference, we collected and analyzed a number of problem reports submitted by our application users during a six-month period. The evidence from the problem reports suggests that the number of PRs is low for that particular time frame and that there is no indication of any functional issues. The research findings should have important implications for the practice of software translation revision and for raising awareness that localization is a team effort involving more players than just translators and revisers

Technical Data on Typologies of Interventions in Knowledge Exchange and Enterprise Network (KEEN) projects. Report 6b

This technical data report is an addendum to the typology and hierarchies of intervention report, which provides an analysis of the type and range of business interventions provided through the Knowledge Exchange and Enterprise Network (KEEN) programme to SMEs in the West Midlands region. There were 126 KEEN projects in total, through which a range of business interventions were provided to the participating companies. KEEN assisted around 100 SMEs through 126 projects, and provided 617 interventions overall. The projects were managed by six the university partners: the University of Wolverhampton, Coventry University, Aston University, Birmingham City University, the University of Worcester, and Staffordshire University