Overview
ISO 23247-2:2021 - "Automation systems and integration - Digital twin framework for manufacturing - Part 2: Reference architecture" defines a reference architecture for digital twins in manufacturing. It specifies both domain-based and entity-based reference models and a functional view that describes the functional entities required to create, synchronize, operate and manage digital twins of observable manufacturing elements (personnel, equipment, materials, processes, facilities, environment, products, documents). The standard is a framework: it guides design and implementation without prescribing specific data formats or communication protocols.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Domain-based reference model: divides the solution into four domains - Observable Manufacturing Domain, Device Communication Domain, Digital Twin Domain, and User Domain - and explains their roles and interactions.
- Entity-based reference model: decomposes domains into system and subsystem entities such as device communication entity, digital twin entity, user entity, and cross-system entity.
- Functional view: identifies functional entities (FEs) and services needed, including:
- Data collection and device control FEs in the device communication entity.
- Operation & management, application & service, and resource access & interchange FEs in the digital twin entity.
- User interface FE for applications and users.
- Cross-system FEs for data assurance, security support, and data translation.
- Interoperability and modeling guidance: mandates that domains model information (see ISO 23247-3) and interconnect using information exchange approaches (see ISO 23247-4). The architecture builds on the IoT reference architecture in ISO/IEC 30141.
- Non-prescriptive approach: the standard supports different manufacturing domains and modeling technologies (e.g., ISO 10303 for discrete manufacturing) and does not mandate specific protocols or formats.
Applications
- Implementing digital twin platforms for real-time monitoring, simulation, analytics, predictive maintenance, and process optimization.
- Designing architectures that synchronize physical assets and their digital counterparts for production control and decision support.
- Guiding system integration projects where device-level data (sensors, PLCs) must be reconciled with enterprise systems (MES, ERP) via digital twins.
Who should use this standard
- System architects, IoT and industry 4.0 engineers, and solution integrators designing digital twin implementations.
- Device manufacturers, software vendors, and application developers building interoperable twin services.
- Plant managers and manufacturing digitalization teams planning scalable, standards-based twin deployments.
Related standards
Keywords: ISO 23247-2:2021, digital twin, reference architecture, manufacturing, device communication, entity-based model, domain-based model, functional entities, interoperability.
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