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Digital twins (DTs) are a vital technology transforming industrial systems by linking the physical and digital realms through real-time, bidirectional data flow and intelligent analysis. This special issue of the International Journal of Production Research presents 14 original contributions that advance both the theoretical framework and practical applications of digital twins in diverse industrial settings, such as production control, process monitoring, human-machine collaboration, supply chains, maintenance, and value-based deployment. The articles are grouped into three key themes: (i) DT architectures, modelling principles, and trustworthy development; (ii) smart production management, process optimisation, and digital integration; and (iii) human-centered applications, supply chain support, and industrial value creation. Collectively, they offer a comprehensive overview of digital twins as a transformative technology enabling adaptive and resilient industrial operations. The editorial concludes with a discussion of major open challenges and promising research directions to promote wider adoption of digital twins across various industrial sectors.
Finco et al. (Fri,) studied this question.