In shortA digital twin is a virtual representation of a machine, line or process fed with real-time shop-floor data and used for monitoring, simulation and analysis.
The value of a digital twin depends on the model being fed with current, reliable data. If sensor and PLC data do not reach the model with correct units and timestamps, the twin does not reflect reality.
Most digital twin projects are therefore data-feed problems: which tags, how often, in which format and with which outage behaviour should reach the model? The answers start with the design of the namespace and the data contract.