Overview
ISO 23247-4:2021 - "Automation systems and integration - Digital twin framework for manufacturing - Part 4: Information exchange" defines technical requirements for how information is exchanged among entities in a digital twin reference architecture for manufacturing. It focuses on four network types that connect users, services, device communication layers, and observable manufacturing elements (OMEs). The document complements ISO 23247-1 (principles), -2 (reference architecture) and -3 (information attributes) and does not prescribe specific data formats or communication protocols.
Key Topics and Technical Requirements
ISO 23247-4:2021 addresses the networking view and lays out concrete requirements for information exchange across the digital twin framework. Key topics include:
- Four network types:
- User network: connects user entities (humans, applications, enterprise systems) with the digital twin entity.
- Service network: links sub-entities inside the digital twin entity (operation/management, application/service, resource access).
- Access network: connects device communication entities to digital twin and user entities (typically IP-based LAN/WLAN/mobile).
- Proximity network: connects device communication entities to OMEs (may use Industrial Ethernet or non‑IP protocols).
- User network requirements: provisioning, on‑demand status acquisition, standardized exchange methods, verification of exchanged digital models, synchronization, security, and support for visualisation, monitoring and simulation.
- Service network requirements: reliable internal exchange among digital twin sub‑entities to support management, data analytics and simulation.
- Access network requirements: connectivity, standardized communication methods, synchronization, transaction handling, mobility support, and security considerations.
- Proximity network requirements: local connectivity support, adaptation for device specifics, and handling of data volume, transmission efficiency and storage constraints.
- Implementation guidance: informative annexes provide discrete manufacturing use cases (dynamic scheduling, advanced metrology, material removal optimization) illustrating practical exchanges between models and systems.
Applications and Who Uses It
ISO 23247-4 is for organizations implementing or integrating digital twin solutions in manufacturing. Typical users and beneficiaries:
- Manufacturing companies deploying digital twins for real‑time control, predictive maintenance, in‑process adaptation, and analytics
- OT/IT system architects and automation engineers defining network and data exchange requirements
- System integrators and software vendors building digital twin platforms, APIs and device communication stacks
- Standards developers and researchers aligning data exchange practices across manufacturing domains
Practical benefits include improved interoperability, robust synchronization between physical assets and their twin models, secured information flows, and clear requirements for supporting mobile or constrained devices.
Related Standards (if applicable)
- ISO 23247-1: Overview and general principles (digital twin framework)
- ISO 23247-2: Reference architecture and functional views
- ISO 23247-3: Basic information attributes for observable manufacturing elements
- Domain modeling examples referenced: ISO 10303 (discrete manufacturing), ISO 15926 (process/oil & gas), ISO 16739 (building information modeling)
Keywords: ISO 23247-4:2021, digital twin, information exchange, manufacturing, user network, service network, access network, proximity network, industrial interoperability.
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