​​Unlocking the Power of Digital Twins in Smart Manufacturing​

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

Festo SE is a globally leading provider of industrial automation technology, offering innovative components and solutions that support smart and efficient manufacturing. As a member of the Factory-X consortium, Festo actively collaborates with industry partners to establish standardized, secure data exchange across the industrial ecosystem. This creates the foundation for using runtime data from automation components to develop advanced digital and data-driven services. 

Goal 

The objective of this project is to identify and evaluate business opportunities for data- and digital twin-based services that go beyond Festo’s current static asset administration sheets. The focus lies on evaluating services, such as predictive maintenance, that leverage runtime data from digital twins and on understanding their value for stakeholders across the industrial ecosystem. In addition, the report analyzes the conditions and challenges of data sharing and collaboration, including trust, data sovereignty and ecosystem frameworks. Based on these findings, recommendations are made on how Festo can position their digital twin-based offerings as a unique selling point and strengthen its role in the data-driven industrial ecosystem. 

Methodology 

The project combines literature research, expert interviews and a structured evaluation framework. Starting with comprehensive secondary research to build a foundation of digital twins, smart services and data-sharing ecosystems. Secondly, qualitative interviews with an interview guideline derived from the literature findings were conducted. Our interview partners were categorized into three stakeholder groups: component manufacturers, machine builders and factory operators. Finally, the findings from both literature and interviews were synthesized using the Build Your Own House framework. 

Results 

The results show the link between service relevance, data governance and ecosystem roles, offering a clearer understanding of how digital twin services are created, used and also constrained in industrial settings. They reveal that adoption depends not only on technical feasibility but mainly on trust, data control and clear value for stakeholders. These insights formed the basis for developing specific strategic recommendations. 

Cooperation Partner 

• ​​Festo SE & Co. KG 
  Festo Campus 1 
  73734 Esslingen 
  Germany 
  www.festo.com​ 

​​Contact Person​ 

• ​​Björn Sautter 
  bjoern.sautter@festo.com​ 

Student Team 

• ​​​Eder Simon 
  Edinger Tom 
  Frankenberger Susanne 
  Goldsteiner Larissa 
  Volgger David​​ 

Project Manager 

• ​​​Sandra Jeske, MSc.​ 

• ​​Caroline Fabian, MSc