Method for Identifying and Evaluating the Fields of Application of a Digital Twin

In the context of Industry 4.0, digital technologies and concepts are becoming more and more important in companies, as they can provide solutions to current challenges. The digital twin in particular can be used in various fields of application and thus create added value. However, the variety of different application possibilities as well as the difficult evaluation of the added value of the digital twin poses great challenges for companies. This publication therefore presents a method that offers companies a structured approach to identifying and subsequently evaluating possible uses of the digital twin based on their digital maturity. First, the digital maturity of a company is determined by means of a point-based questionnaire and a suitable identification method is proposed based on the result of the digital maturity. If a field of application could be identified with the proposed method, it is evaluated by a self-developed "Digital Twin Canvas" and, depending on the field of application, by a suitable simulation. By applying the method in various companies from different sectors, the method's functionality has been validated.