Adapting Digital Twin Frameworks Toward Lean Manufacturing for the Circular Economy

Abstract

Abstract Lean manufacturing is based on data collection and analysis that is used toward reducing waste and enabling continuous improvement. However, little research has been done bridging emerging topics of a Circular Economy and Digital Twins to lean manufacturing systems. A lean enabled manufacturing digital twin can provide more efficient interactions between these stakeholders and lean activities. Building on previous literature and the ISO 23247 standard — the Digital Twin Framework for Manufacturing — this paper identifies functional requirements for the adaptation of lean manufacturing to a digital twin model. The requirements are defined in terms of a multiple layers of the system: physical space, cyber-physical storage, primary processing, models and algorithms, analysis, feedback, and interfaces. To correlate a lean digital twin framework to the current standard effort, we identify the digitized-lean requirements that can be applied to standards in reference to ISO 23247. In practice, the digitalization of lean manufacturing can improve top-down management recognition, aid decision making, increase cost efficiency, sustain continuous improvement, enhance worker engagement, and support communication with stakeholders. Furthermore, the lean-adapted digital twin framework introduced and subsequent requirements can help interface lean to smart manufacturing systems, and apply standard lean principles to sustainability initiatives such as the Circular Economy.