10 Digital twins in production
This chapter covers
- Approaches to running a digital twin in production
- Security, governance, and ethical considerations for digital twins
- Digital twin operations
- Continuing strategic alignment and value realization
Moving a digital twin from prototype or proof-of-concept to production is the final step in creating a system that fulfills its promised business value. This transition is important because a digital twin generates sustained value only when it operates reliably within the chaotic, always-on environment of the real world. It is one thing to model a system when you control the inputs and can experiment and pivot at will, and quite another to operate a system integrated into live operational workflows.
Production is where digital twins either become strategic assets or costly prototypes, and the difference lies in operational discipline, governance, and continuous alignment with business goals. Understanding these concerns is essential if a digital twin is to deliver sustained value rather than a one-time technical success.