The venture is interesting in several ways, even though SAS Institute does not normally have the PLM area as its main focus. However, this does not prevent the company’s Suite of Analytics Software (also known as SAS) from being included in the IT arsenal of most Fortune 500 companies. The suite helps access, manage, analyze and report data to facilitate decision-making.
But now SAS broadens its perspective and in a press release about the pilot at Georgia-Pacific, the company writes that, “the solution enables manufacturers to simulate and test new strategies in a simulated digital environment before implementing them in real life – thereby improving productivity, safety and efficiency.”
Underpins factory process optimization
Today’s factories generate vast amounts of data from various systems and thousands of sensors. When this data is properly utilized, it can be the basis for optimized processes and new innovations. SAS has used RealityScan, a mobile app from Epic, to create photorealistic 3D models of the factory and import them into Unreal Engine. By connecting SAS Viya with Unreal Engine, Georgia-Pacific can optimize its operations without disrupting actual production. The pilot project is expected to contribute to both cost savings and improved product quality.
The Technology Behind SAS’ Digital Twins
“Georgia-Pacific is demonstrating how digital twins can create tangible business value,” said Bill Clifford, VP and General Manager of Unreal Engine at Epic Games. “The combination of SAS’s advanced analytics and 3D visualization enables manufacturing companies to better understand their operations, make faster decisions, and save money.”
SAS software SAS Viya is used to analyze large amounts of data from production and generate actionable insights. By integrating Unreal Engine simulations with SAS Viya, companies can conduct realistic testing of different scenarios and quickly identify potential problems, without having to interrupt or disrupt ongoing production.
Regarding Unreal Engine, it should be further said that the solution has advanced tools for real-time 3D creation, used in everything from games to film, architecture, automotive design (Mercedes’ 2019 Engineering Hub for example), and simulation. The technology enables highly detailed and interactive digital models that, in co mbination with AI, leads to more accurate analysis and decisions.
Some of the distinguishing features are the potential of Unreal Engine in terms of industry versatility. Originally intended for games such as Fortnite and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, its use has expanded to other sectors such as film, television, live broadcasts, automotive design and architectural visualization. Particularly distinctive is the real-time rendering and the capacity to create high-quality, lifelike 3D graphics and interactive environments.
Advanced features
As mentioned, there are also advanced features here: It includes groundbreaking technologies such as Nanite and Lumen for dynamic detail and realistic lighting, as seen in Unreal Engine 5.
“For many manufacturers, it is a challenge to test new processes in actual production, where every interruption costs time and money. Through digital twins, we can simulate real-world scenarios with high precision and test improvements in advance – without affecting operations. This provides both peace of mind and business value,” says Antti Heino, Principal Advisor, Analytics & AI, SAS Institute.
”With gamification, data
and AI become more accessible”
“The next generation of employees expect modern tools. With gamification, data and AI become more accessible, engaging and easier to adopt,” says Bryan Harris, CTO at SAS. “We can move from traditional spreadsheets to powerful visual experiences that contribute to decision-making and increase productivity.”
He further claims that the improved digital twins make advanced data analysis accessible to more than just data analysts. Operators, technicians and engineers can now also benefit from real-time insights and make better decisions directly in production.
It is also notable that SAS plans to scale up the technology to more manufacturers and at the same time explore new industries. In healthcare, for example, digital twins can simulate patient flows, predict equipment maintenance and improve staff training. The technology can also be used in urban planning, to model and optimize smart cities – with a focus on sustainability and quality of life.
The visions are grand and it will be interesting to see how this initiative develops. However, it is not an easy task for SAS to undertake. The competition is fierce, while the traditional PLM players’ deep digital manufacturing expertise, breadth and long experience from the broader product realization perspective connect a vast number of aspects into what is now an enormously complex whole.
But SAS’s Bryan Harris, has an optimistic view on the matter: “It’s time to go deeper. Many have different definitions, but the question we should ask ourselves is: what is the goal of a digital twin for a company? For us, the answer is clear: digital twins should simulate complex environments, generate synthetic data and deliver actionable insights. Digital twins should not only function like the real world, but also look like they do in it.”
Hard to deny and definitely an interesting aspect, but it will take a lot of AI, inspiration and perspiration to achieve a broader market breakthrough for a competitive solution.
