Automation World: Gets Your Questions Answered

Why Are Digital Twins Considered Better than Simulations for Supply Chain Optimization?

We connect with Jason Hehman, leader of Industry 4.0 at TXI, to understand the use of digital twins in supply chain operations — how they help manufacturers predict and manage supply chain disruptions and assess the impact of raw material shortages or logistics delays, and we explore the key data sources manufacturers need to build an effective supply chain digital twin.

David Greenfield, editor in chief

June 10, 2025

Automation World Gets Your Questions Answered Podcast

Why this podcast is worth listening to:

The discussion goes beyond theoretical concepts to provide concrete examples, such as a Mexican manufacturing facility that monitors weather, law enforcement activity and highway construction data to optimize their supply chain decisions, showing how digital twins actually work in practice.
Learn about the "Three C's" framework (Complexity, Connectivity, and Consequences) that manufacturers can use to determine whether a digital twin is the right solution for their specific situation, helping avoid over-engineering while ensuring meaningful business impact.
Get insights on how a clear progression of data — from basic internal data sources (ERP and MES) to partner data (EDI systems) to external syndicated data — can give manufacturers a structured approach to building increasingly sophisticated digital twin capabilities without overwhelming their operations.