Already for nearly three decades, Mass Customization (MC) has been described as a viable business model for companies in diverse sectors. Nonetheless, the introduction and the successful operation of an MC approach is a challenging endeavor for companies of all sizes. In this article, special attention is given to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which increasingly collaborate in networks to successfully develop complex, mass-customized products. While collaboration allows for pooling several areas of expertise, the cross-organizational development poses challenges in manifold regards. To study these challenges, we set up a network business process model developed with four SMEs from the German high-tech textile industry. Based on the current literature on capabilities for MC, we evaluate the challenges of MC in SME networks detected in our network business process model to underpin the need for further research. In our study, we detail the conceptual analysis of such networkbased scenarios along our process model for three focal areas: (1) co-creation, (2) solution space development, and (3) information system design. We construe the need for further research and derive implications for both academia and practice.

Today we live in a time where new technologies are developing rapidly. Digitalization and automation are finding their way into various industrial sectors, especially in the area of Industry 4.0. As in previous digitalization efforts in the manufacturing sector, it can be observed that the discourse is strongly concentrated on technological themes, neglecting the overall integration of technologies into the organization. In this paper, we conduct a literature review on the concept of a digital twin, i.e. a simulation-oriented closed loop system consisting of physical and digital components. We map the identified themes to the elements of a socio-technical system to show which issues in the discourse are underrepresented from a managerial point of view in order to provide indications for a more holistic discourse.

Kurzfassung Dieser Beitrag zeigt die Potenziale des Digitalen Zwillings in Wertschöpfungsnetzwerken auf. Damit einher geht das Konzept des kollaborativen Digitalen Zwillings Co-TWIN, das im gleichnamigen Forschungsprojekt die Technologie des Digitalen Zwillings nutzt, um die Zusammenarbeit innerhalb von Wertschöpfungsnetzwerken im Maschinen- und Anlagenbau zu fördern. Hierbei wird Co-TWIN in Erweiterung zu den meisten bisherigen Einsatzszenarien im gesamten Lebenszyklus der Maschinen zum Einsatz kommen.

Nowadays, mass customization (MC) is shaped by the application of digital technologies like computeraided design, computer aided manufacturing, and distribution planning. Within a MC process, various data is created, which can be used to gain knowledge about past and future business activities by means of modern data analytics methods. The paper at hand applies design science research and presents a process-based approach for identifying potential analytics use cases for MC. For this purpose, a generic MC process is derived from previous literature and a systematic analysis is carried out using the work systems method. The resulting artifact offers a differentiated view on customers, products, activities, participants, technologies, and information as well as on the information flows within the MC process. It enables manufacturers to identify valuable opportunities for analytics and to optimize current MC processes. Furthermore, it can be used to develop a systematic process for the discovery and evaluation of analytics use cases and novel business models in the future.

ZusammenfassungFür die Digitalisierung der Fertigungsindustrie ist es notwendig, dass Unternehmen in neuen Partnerkonstellationen kollaborieren, um neuartige digitale Services anzubieten. Die Zusammenarbeit bei der Entwicklung von den entstehenden Service Ökosystemen hat einen großen Einfluss auf die später möglichen Geschäftsmodelle. Im vorliegenden Beitrag werden anhand eines Beispielprojektes für die Entwicklung einer Digital Twin Plattform Spannungsfelder und Lösungsmechanismen vorgestellt, die beim Aufbau von digitalen Softwareplattformen und Service Ökosystemen auftreten können. Die Spannungsfelder erstrecken sich über alle Projektphasen und resultieren aus drei Faktoren: einer fehlenden gemeinsamen Weltsicht, dem Bedürfnis nach lokaler Optimierung sowie einem Fokus auf Effizienzsteigerungen statt Innovationen. Abschließend werden Leitfragen formuliert, mit denen Spannungsfelder identifiziert werden können, um Lösungsmechanismen zu entwickeln und somit die erfolgreiche Gestaltung eines Service Ökosystems sicherzustellen.