# Understanding Digital Twins in a Manufacturing Environment with Erik Udstuen, Co-Founder & CEO at TwinThread

- Show: [Over the Air](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air)
- Published: 2023-06-22
- Length: 26m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2023-06-22-understanding-digital-twins-in-a-manufacturing-environment-with-erik-udstuen-co
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/over-the-air/episodes/Understanding-Digital-Twins-in-a-Manufacturing-Environment-with-Erik-Udstuen--Co-Founder--CEO-at-TwinThread-e2l43ru

## Summary

Erik Udstuen, Co-Founder & CEO at TwinThread, explains how digital twins optimize manufacturing by integrating sensor data with AI models to improve quality and energy efficiency. He outlines three critical conditions for success: having sufficient sensor data, clear economic value, and collaboration between OT and IT teams. Udstuen shares a case study of a pet food manufacturer using digital twins to automatically adjust ingredients for consistent quality, and discusses the shift toward autonomous operations and global 'virtual centers of excellence' driven by labor costs and supply chain resilience.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2023-06-22-understanding-digital-twins-in-a-manufacturing-environment-with-erik-udstuen-co#t=0) Introduction and TwinThread Overview
- [2:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2023-06-22-understanding-digital-twins-in-a-manufacturing-environment-with-erik-udstuen-co#t=143) Slam Dunk Use Cases and Pet Food Example
- [4:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2023-06-22-understanding-digital-twins-in-a-manufacturing-environment-with-erik-udstuen-co#t=290) Adoption Curve and Risk Tolerance in Manufacturing
- [6:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2023-06-22-understanding-digital-twins-in-a-manufacturing-environment-with-erik-udstuen-co#t=406) Qualifying Use Cases: Economic Value vs. Science Experiments
- [8:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2023-06-22-understanding-digital-twins-in-a-manufacturing-environment-with-erik-udstuen-co#t=519) TwinThread Origin and GE IoT Experience
- [11:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2023-06-22-understanding-digital-twins-in-a-manufacturing-environment-with-erik-udstuen-co#t=668) The Foundation of Sensors and Data History
- [14:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2023-06-22-understanding-digital-twins-in-a-manufacturing-environment-with-erik-udstuen-co#t=895) Three Conditions for Successful Implementation
- [16:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2023-06-22-understanding-digital-twins-in-a-manufacturing-environment-with-erik-udstuen-co#t=998) Evolution of Automation and Cloud Integration
- [19:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2023-06-22-understanding-digital-twins-in-a-manufacturing-environment-with-erik-udstuen-co#t=1166) Reshoring, Labor Costs, and Virtual Centers of Excellence
- [23:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2023-06-22-understanding-digital-twins-in-a-manufacturing-environment-with-erik-udstuen-co#t=1398) Future of Autonomous Plants and Industry Mentions

## Topics

- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- TwinThread (company)
- GE (company)
- Proctor and Gamble (company)
- Colgate (company)
- Residio (company)
- Honeywell (company)
- C Store AI (company)
- Very (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [How Quality and Innovation Roles are Changing in Data-Rich Manufacturing Environments w/ Daniel First](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-04-14-how-quality-and-innovation-roles-are-changing-in-data-rich-manufacturing-environ) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [From Paper and Spreadsheets to Connected Data: Making the Digital Leap w/ Ian Burns](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-03-10-from-paper-and-spreadsheets-to-connected-data-making-the-digital-leap-w-ian-burn) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [EMS@C-LEVEL Season #2021 Episode #8 with Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, Instrumental](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2021-08-09-ems-c-level-season-2021-episode-8-with-anna-katrina-shedletsky-instrumental) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [Digital Twins and Simulation in IoT | Cosmo Tech's Sam George | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2023-04-06-digital-twins-and-simulation-in-iot-cosmo-techs-sam-george-internet-of-things-po) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [Insight-Driven Strategy with IoT | Eigen Innovations’ Scott Everett](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-11-30-insight-driven-strategy-with-iot-eigen-innovations-scott-everett) (IoT For All Podcast)

## Citing this page

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