Enhancing Supply Chain Operations Using IoT and Digital Twin
intelligence ( AI ) across the data from the IT ( Information Technology ) and OT ( Operational Technology ) systems to continually search for further enhancements in supply chain operations .
The Industrial Digital Thread Testbed by IIC , is an example where the digital thread is used to help resolve a supply chain issue that was causing quality issues in the jet engines . It is important to note that the aircraft manufacturers rely on hundreds of suppliers for the components and subassemblies in the aircraft . Hence , use of digital threads that try to model the complex supply chain operation , from factory to flight , can be key to further optimizations in the aviation industry . 2
The advantages of this technology-driven approach to improve supply chain operations are substantial . It enables companies to enhance the dependability and resilience of their supply chains while reducing the need for costly investments in physical infrastructure such as additional inventory , capacity or suppliers . For instance , employing sensing and analytics tools allows for early identification of potential issues , reducing the necessity to diversify existing supply chains .
Technological advancements empower supply chains to be more flexible , as organizations can better anticipate demand and adjust to address potential challenges that could impact inventory , service , compliance , or other critical aspects . Additionally , agile supply chains not only mitigate risks but also position organizations to react quickly and seize new opportunities for growth .
4.1 IOT FOR ENHANCED DATA COLLECTION
The proliferation of low-cost IoT sensors , power technologies , connectivity , and cloud data storage has created new opportunities to digitize supply chains by leveraging the IoT Platforms and applications . IoT sensors can be used to collect data on a wide range of factors , such as the location of assets , the environment , the condition of products , and the performance of equipment . This data can then be used to improve visibility , optimize operations , and mitigate risks . In the context of the airline industry , the jet engine is the most expensive and critical part of the aircraft .
New jet engines have around 300 sensors built into them to record the temperature , pressure , vibration during the taxi , take-off , cruise , descent and landing of the aircraft . During the flight , such information from the engine along with other aircraft body data is collected and stored in the Flight Data Recorder ( FDR ). Older aircraft and engines are often retrofitted with the essential sensors , during their shop visits for maintenance .
This FDR data , often referred to as the full flight data , is a treasure trove when it comes to enhanced data collection for IoT . Such data allows building hi-fidelity digital twins of the airline operations and provide resiliency to occurrence of maintenance impacts . It also prepares the supplier ecosystem of aircraft components by providing the leading indicators of parts demand .
2 https :// hub . iiconsortium . org / industrial-digital-thread 8
August 2023