Conceptualisation of a 7-element digital twin framework in supply chain and operations management

Abstract

Digital twins became of greater interest to researchers and practitioners in supply chain and operations management (SCOM). Literature has addressed the need to understand digital twins in SCOM, mostly focusing on fragmented technological solutions and use cases. We start with an integrative literature review to determine which elements belong to research on digital twins in SCOM. We define the seven major elements of a digital twin in SCOM: technology, people, management, organisation, scope, task, and modelling. We also distinguish five major types of digital twins in SCOM: product, process, organisation, supply chain and network-of-networks. Illustration of a SCOM digital twin is provided using an anyLogistix example. We conclude that digital twins in SCOM are not merely a simulation-based replica of a real object but a complex socio-technical phenomenon involved in continuous human-artificial intelligence interactions. This leads to an understanding of the role of digital twins through the lens of Industry 5.0, reconfigurable and viable supply chains. Researchers and practitioners alike can use our framework to structure the knowledge on SCOM digital twins and consider all seven elements when designing and using digital twins.