Digital Twin
A digital twin is a virtual representation of a physical product, asset, or system that is synchronized with real-world data to reflect current state, predict future behavior, or support operational decisions. In engineering, digital twins range from design-phase simulation models updated with as-built geometry, to operational twins that receive live sensor data from deployed assets and run predictive models in real time. Digital twins that connect simulation to operations require integration between the simulation platform, the PLM system (which holds the product model), and the MES or IIoT layer (which provides operational data).
In context
Boeing uses digital twins to simulate aircraft assembly sequences before any physical build begins — interference issues and tooling path conflicts are resolved in the Teamcenter-connected simulation model, with each design iteration stored as a versioned digital thread artifact. Operational digital twins in wind farm management receive live sensor data to predict bearing failures weeks before they occur.
Why it matters
Digital twins are the strategic connection between simulation investment and operational value. A simulation model that only exists in an engineering workstation contributes to design validation. A simulation model connected to operational data via a UNS or PLM backbone contributes to predictive maintenance, operational optimization, and quality assurance on the live production system. For simulation buyers, the question is not just "can this platform create accurate models?" but "can this platform publish model outputs into the operational architecture?"
Related concepts
External References
This term appears in
- Best Simulation Software 2026: Incumbents, Specialists, and the New Constellation
- Product Memory and AI Agents: The Missing Layer in PLM
- What is Simulation Governance?
- PLM vs BIM: Two Industries, One Problem — Managing Complex Product Data
- Digital Twins at Scale: From Engineering Prototype to Enterprise Operational Asset
- What is Supply Chain Traceability?
- PLM and IoT: Connecting Digital Twins to Real-World Asset Data
- What is a Digital Twin?
- What is a Digital Thread? Definition and Examples
- Demystifying Digital Thread and Digital Twin
Cite this definition
Finocchiaro, Michael. “Digital Twin.” DemystifyingPLM PLM Glossary, 2026, https://www.demystifyingplm.com/glossary/digital-twin