Decision support in productive processes through DES and ABS in the Digital Twin era: a systematic literature review

The use of simulation to support decision-making in productive processes (goods and services) is already an established research field. However, with the availability of solutions and technologies, simulation is no longer a tool with limited scope and analysis. In this case, the integration of simulation with physical systems is considered to allow virtual models to be sensitive to physical changes and aligned with the current state of processes, forming the so-called Digital Twin. Therefore, the main purpose of this article is to present a systematic literature review of the use of simulation as Digital Twin to support decision-making. We considered studies published in scientific journals and conference proceedings that include the use of Discrete Event Simulation (DES) and/or Agent-Based Simulation (ABS). Although the Digital Twin concept has appeared in recent years, we noted that its principle has been used for decades when it comes to decision-making through simulation. Moreover, there are still many discussions and uncertainties regarding the simulation model in this research field, such as the degree of autonomy, synchronisation, and connection. These and other key issues are discussed and some research opportunities are highlighted, such as the need for constant model validation and integration between various models.