Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS, President Kim Dae-ja) under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) announced that the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has officially published two international standards for manufacturing digital twins proposed by Korea.

Digital twin technology creates virtual models of physical products, equipment, processes, and factories. These models allow manufacturers to monitor real-world conditions, predict problems, and optimize operations. As autonomous manufacturing and AI-based manufacturing services become more widespread, digital twins are emerging as a core technology for improving productivity and quality in manufacturing.

Korea has led efforts to develop international standards for manufacturing digital twins, contributing to the development of ISO 23247-1 through ISO 23247-4. These standards cover general principles, reference architecture, digital representations of manufacturing elements, and information exchange.

The two newly published standards expand the series to cover how multiple digital twins can be connected and combined for specific purposes.

ISO 23247-5 (Digital Thread for Digital Twin) sets out how to link information from different stages of manufacturing, including product design, production processes, equipment status, and inspection results, into a continuous digital thread, allowing users to find and use the data needed for digital twin applications. This makes it possible to trace and analyze design information, production conditions, equipment history, and inspection data in relation to one another when a specific quality issue arises.

ISO 23247-6 (Digital Twin Composition) sets out how to select and combine digital twins to create a larger virtual model for a specific purpose. This allows digital twins of individual products, equipment, and processes to be combined like building blocks into a composite digital twin for an entire production line or factory, providing greater flexibility in configuration.

With government support, the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) proposed the above standards based on Korean technologies. Companies and organizations from countries including the United States and Sweden also participated in their development.

“The publication of these international standards has paved the way for Korean digital twin technologies to be used worldwide by incorporating them into international standards,” said KATS President Kim Dae-ja. “We will continue to actively support related standards development by industry, academia, and research institutions to facilitate the rapid adoption of AI across Korea’s manufacturing sector.”