“Metro Map” Illustrating the Digitalisation in Industry

Abstract

This paper presents an illustrated model to explain digitalisation in industry in a holistic, non-technological way. It reflects the dimensions of the product lifecycle and the supply chain. More specifically, it discusses the interaction between customer, product, production, and suppliers along a product’s life and how digitalisation supports these interactions. Particular attention is given to the transition from type to its product instances. Especially in the case of complex products, mastering this transition plays a key role in understanding digitalisation requirements. Reclining the concept of type and instance, different element of the digital twin, as digital master and the different shadows, are classified. Developed initially to structure a course in an engineering master’s program, the model has evolved to be used in different courses and currently supports consulting and applied research projects to orchestrate digitalisation initiatives in the industry.