NARRATE will develop a cutting-edge tool, the Intelligent Manufacturing Custodian (IMC), a hub of advanced digital intelligence that enhances both resilience and production efficiency. Leveraging AI, Digital Twin, Big Data and IoT technologies, the IMC provides comprehensive, real-time visibility and control over production and supply chain operations, enabling accurate monitoring, prediction, and management of potential disruptions. This empowers supply chains to achieve higher levels of resilience.
By integrating the IMC, traditional supply and production chains are transformed into Smart Manufacturing Networks (SMNs) designed to adapt to and withstand disruptions. SMNs are self-orchestrating ecosystems of lead manufacturers, suppliers and logistics providers equipped with programmable Manufacturing-as-a-Service (MaaS) capabilities, as illustrated in the figure below.
An integral component of the Intelligent Manufacturing Custodian (IMC) is the Digital Twin (DT), which models the entire Smart Manufacturing Network, including both lead manufacturers, suppliers, and logistics providers. By aggregating real-time data on products, materials, IoT sensor inputs, production and logistics processes, and machine performance across the supply chain, the DT unlocks deep, actionable intelligence within the IMC. This continuous data stream enables the DT to monitor the operational health of production processes, machinery, products, and overall SMN functionality, driving proactive, intelligent interventions that optimize performance and minimize disruptions and downtime.
NARRATE’s vision goes beyond individual assets to create a Smart Manufacturing Network — a fully connected ecosystem linking stakeholders for rapid, coordinated responses to disruptions. This network-driven approach ensures real-time adaptability and resilience, essential in today’s fast-evolving manufacturing environment.
Traditional Digital Twins focus on isolated processes and lack the interconnectedness needed for fluid, real-time adjustments. Their limited scope restricts their ability to support comprehensive resilience across the entire manufacturing network.
To bring SMNs to life, NARRATE introduces programmable Manufacturing-as-a-Service, shifting from rigid traditional DT setups to a flexible, service-oriented model. This innovation enables manufacturers to dynamically scale and adjust operations in response to changing demands.
Unlike traditional Digital Twins—static models focused on specific assets—NARRATE’s Digital Twin approach fully utilizes real-time data for agile decision-making and continuous operational optimization. Traditional models struggle with system integration and are typically designed for narrow applications, making them unsuitable for the adaptive needs of MaaS. NARRATE’s DT, however, fosters a seamlessly integrated, agile ecosystem, enhancing efficiency and resilience across platforms and stakeholders in real time.
What sets the NARRATE Digital Twin apart from traditional DT models is also its innovative focus on enhancing supply chain resilience. Its unique capabilities include:
Real-Time Data Utilization
- NARRATE: Leverages real-time data from diverse sources continuously, ensuring that decisions are based on the most current information available.
- Traditional Digital Twins: While they also use real-time data, they may not integrate it as comprehensively or utilize it for proactive adjustments in the same way.
End-to-End Visibility and Coordination
- NARRATE: Provides comprehensive end-to-end visibility across the entire supply chain, facilitating real-time coordination among all stakeholders. This interconnectedness enhances overall resilience.
- Traditional Digital Twins: Typically focus on individual assets or processes, which may not provide the same level of holistic visibility across the supply chain.
Integration of Advanced Technologies
- NARRATE: Incorporates Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced data analytics to create a more dynamic and responsive system. This integration allows for continuous learning and adaptation based on real-time conditions.
- Traditional Digital Twins: While they may use similar technologies, they often lack the sophisticated integration facilities that the NARRATE DT employs to create a self-orchestrated ecosystem.
Proactive Decision-Making
- NARRATE: Utilizes real-time data and predictive analytics to anticipate potential disruptions before they occur, enabling proactive rather than reactive decision-making.
- Traditional Digital Twins: Often focus on monitoring and simulating existing processes without the same level of predictive capabilities.
Focus on Sustainability and Productivity
- NARRATE: Specifically addresses productivity and sustainability management alongside resilience, integrating these factors into its operational framework.
- Traditional Digital Twins: May not prioritize sustainability as a core component of their operational strategies.
Dynamic Adaptability
- NARRATE: Allows manufacturers to re-specify operations dynamically—changing product types, production volumes, or suppliers in real-time based on current data and conditions.
- Traditional Digital Twins: Often have more static configurations and may not support such flexible operational changes as effectively.
By incorporating these advanced features, the NARRATE digital twin represents a significant evolution from traditional digital twins, offering enhanced capabilities for predicting and managing supply chain disruptions effectively.
Authors
Michael P. Papazoglou
Bernd J. Krämer
