Digital twins can champion a new level of improved communication to assist human interactions and support greater efficiency in the evolution of responsible forestry supply chains.
That’s the outcome of a successful collaborative trial using smart twinning technologies to seamlessly connect all the human players in the chain with real-time transfer and sharing of data from forests, machines, hand-held equipment and timber transportation to a processing destination. Turning forestry workers, wood suppliers, truck drivers, and wood customers like UPM into fully integrated partners for the first time.
In addition to providing detailed tracking of timber from source to customer, the system promotes specific efficiency- and operation-boosting benefits. Shared real-time data across the supply chain can avoid possible reporting errors and information silos, creating opportunities to, when necessary, respond quickly to changing circumstances and even to optimize use of both raw materials and machinery like harvesters, forwarders and trucks, with the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
UPM and partners including RWTH Aachen University Institute for Man-Machine-Interaction, forestry power tool and digital mechatronics company STIHL, and the Bavarian State Forests (Bayerische Staatsforsten AöR), have worked closely to develop, implement and test the system and digital twins’ connectivity.
“For our new biorefinery to produce in-demand, next generation biochemicals, we rely on being able to plan for and receive responsibly sourced residual wood on schedule for our storage facility. An optimized timber harvesting supply chain from the forest to the factory is key within our operational efficiency and decision-making. This proven system of streamlined digitalization and networking, allowing individuals access to accurate, collated, up-to-date information to carry out their and work and responsibilities, sets an exciting foundation not only for Leuna to explore but when widely used could shape a more efficient future for timber harvesting beyond Germany,” comments Andreas Meggendorfer, UPM Biochemicals.