Digital twins help create more sustainable products and processes
Altair, a global leader in computational science and artificial intelligence (AI), has released the results of an independent survey that highlights the high adoption of digital twin technology in the automotive industry and its potential for achieving sustainability objectives. The survey, conducted across 10 countries and involving over 2,000 professionals from various industries, aimed to assess the adoption, utilization, and benefits of digital twin technology.
According to the survey, the automotive industry ranks as the second-highest adopter of digital twin technology among the 11 industries surveyed, with 76 per cent of automotive respondents stating that their companies have already implemented digital twin solutions. However, automotive users appear to be in the early stages of adoption, with only 35 per cent considering themselves highly knowledgeable about digital twin solutions, the second-lowest percentage among the industries surveyed.
A significant finding is that nearly all (92 per cent) of the automotive respondents using digital twin technology reported that it has helped them create more sustainable products and processes. The automotive industry is the most likely sector (63 per cent) to utilize digital twin technologies to reach sustainability objectives. Digital twin solutions enable engineers to run simulations and test functions during the design process, reducing material waste and the number of physical prototypes required.
The shift towards electric vehicles (EVs) as part of efforts to mitigate climate change and reduce carbon emissions is driving the automotive industry’s rapid transformation. Digital twin technology can assist in accelerating the development of EVs and bringing them to market faster at affordable price points. With consumer interest in EVs growing and stricter regulations being enacted by governments, digital twin solutions can play a crucial role in supporting this transition.
Additional key findings from the survey include:
- Nearly all respondents (97 per cent) acknowledged that digital twin solutions provide better insights for developing new products.
- 70 per cent of users reported that digital twin technology significantly reduced maintenance and warranty costs.
- The automotive industry expressed the highest anticipation (50 per cent) that digital twin solutions would improve the quality of future products.
- 38 per cent of automotive respondents believed that digital twin technology would make physical prototyping obsolete within the next four years or sooner.
- 92 per cent of automotive respondents stated that digital twin technology has helped their organizations create more sustainable products and processes.
- 63 per cent of automotive users utilize digital twin solutions to achieve sustainability objectives, finding that it enhances the ease of refurbishing and reusing products and services (51 per cent).
- 78 per cent of respondents agreed that digital twin technology generates energy savings and enables efficient resource utilization within their organizations.
While the survey shows that digital twin technology is widely adopted in the automotive industry, there is still room for growth and a desire for further education. Among respondents whose organizations do not currently use digital twin solutions, 22 per cent expect adoption within the next six months or less, and 33 per cent anticipate adoption within a year or more. Additionally, 92 per cent of non-senior leadership employees believed that better understanding of the benefits would make senior leadership more likely to invest in digital twin technology.
