In our last IBP / IBSing session, we had the opportunity to experience the current progress in AI and Digital Twin technology.
๐๏ธ David Evans kicked off the session with an insightful overview of the ๐๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ฒ ๐
๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ-๐๐๐ฒ๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฅ, which structures enterprise systems into:
๐น ๐๐ก๐ ๐
๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง โ ERP as the backbone of enterprise operations.
๐น ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ซ โ Data lakes and integration platforms to harmonize structured and unstructured data.
๐น ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐๐ซ โ Advanced planning and execution systems enhancing supply chain planning.
๐น ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐-๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ โ AI, digital twins, and self-learning models driving intelligent decision-making.
๐ก In our breakout discussions, we explored key questions around planning parameters, digital twins, and AI:
๐น ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐จ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ก๐๐ข๐ง?
Participants highlighted that lead times, stock policies, and service levels are critical, while data quality remains a challenge. Connecting planning execution with real-world logistics constraints was a recurring theme.
๐น ๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ฌ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ? Understanding customer expectations, cost-service trade-offs, and inventory optimization is crucial. Real-time data visibility and AI-powered adjustments were seen as enablers for better decisions.
๐น ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐๐ง ๐ง๐๐ฐ ๐ญ๐๐๐ก๐ง๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ฐ๐๐๐ง ๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐, ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ก?
AI-based forecasting models, what-if scenario analysis, and automated simulations were highlighted as game-changers, reducing workload and enhancing planning agility. The role of human judgment in AI-assisted decision-making was also debated.
๐ Bob Rogers from Oii.ai closed the session with a compelling demo of an AI-powered solution, showcasing how Digital Twins can model and optimize supply chain decisions in real time.
Iโm still not sure what ๐Dolly thinks about Digital Twinsโฆ but the participants in our workshop saw big potential in leveraging AI to drive smarter, more adaptive planning!