A conceptual framework for supply chain digital twins – development and evaluation

Digital twins, due to digitalisation, are increasingly adopted across industries. The supply chain industry, with its process-driven nature, collaboration of multiple stakeholders and dependability on real-time events, demands unique characteristics for the implementation of digital twins. While these twins can enhance supply chain transparency and responsiveness, there is a lack of an application framework. The aim of this paper is to address this absence of a specialised application framework. The framework outlines multiple layers, dimensions, and stakeholder-technology dependencies for early-phase adoption. It is designed to guide planners and operators of supply chains in planning, implementing, and introducing new supply chain digital twins. Using the design science approach as a research methodology, the framework is informed by literature and expert interviews. Its validity is confirmed through further expert evaluations, and the study concludes with key insights and guidelines derived from the framework.