{"id":12578,"date":"2025-10-08T06:04:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T10:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/thought-leadership\/?p=12578"},"modified":"2026-03-26T12:34:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T16:34:34","slug":"shift-left-digital-twin-part-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/thought-leadership\/shift-left-digital-twin-part-3\/","title":{"rendered":"More Perspectives on the Shift-Left and the Comprehensive Digital Twin with Mike Crist and Scot Morrison \u2013 Part 3 \u2013 Summary"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In a recent series on the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/podcasts\/category\/transforming-industries-with-dale-tutt\/\">Industry Forward Podcast<\/a>, Dale and I sat down with Mike Crist and Scot Morrison to explore how aerospace and other companies are adapting to the rapid shift towards software-defined product development. You can listen to the third and final part of that discussion through the player, or read a summary below.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"embed-megaphone\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/playlist.megaphone.fm?e=TLFIE3665828321\" width=\"100%\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><!-- Megaphone -->\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Shift-Left with AI in Software and Hardware Development<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The conversation began with a look at how artificial intelligence is impacting development workflows. Scot Morrison explained that AI adoption started with analysis: \u201cInitially, a lot of it started with static analysis and in some cases even dynamic analysis during execution of software.\u201d These tools improved productivity by making testing more efficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, AI is moving into development itself. \u201cAuthoring has IP concerns,\u201d Morrison noted, \u201cbut people are building up knowledge bases internally to leverage the vast amount of experience they have.\u201d Large organizations are using internal data to create inference engines that assist developers with authoring, testing, and integration\u2014accelerating the entire software lifecycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Power of Embracing Change During a Digital Shift<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Even as companies recognize the advantages of digitalization and a shift-left approach to system development, such change can be difficult for companies to embrace. Mike shared an anecdote illustrating how difficult it can be for companies to embrace new business models, even when such change can unlock significant gains. His brother, a software architect for a freight management company, developed a platform that could have been commercialized, opening up entirely new revenue streams for the company. \u201cThey could have become a software company and made much more money selling software than moving freight,\u201d Crist said. But leadership couldn\u2019t make the shift\u2014and ultimately let his brother go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mike emphasized that this resistance to change isn\u2019t unique to a single industry or sector: \u201cThat struggle companies have isn\u2019t unique to aerospace, defense, or auto.\u201d It\u2019s a reminder that digital transformation often requires rethinking long-held assumptions about value creation and a commitment to long-term investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"569\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/08\/Benefits-Industrial-AI-04_medium-1024x569.jpeg\" alt=\"Digitalization requires teams and people to embrace change \" class=\"wp-image-12415\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/08\/Benefits-Industrial-AI-04_medium-1024x569.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/08\/Benefits-Industrial-AI-04_medium-600x333.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/08\/Benefits-Industrial-AI-04_medium-768x427.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/08\/Benefits-Industrial-AI-04_medium-1536x853.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/08\/Benefits-Industrial-AI-04_medium-2048x1138.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/08\/Benefits-Industrial-AI-04_medium-900x500.jpeg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Companies may see the potential value of digitalization and shifting-left, but the effort and cost involved in the change remains an obstacle. With that in mind, the discussion turned to shift-left strategies and whether they imply a complete move to virtual testing. Dale Tutt asked how companies are responding to the process and cultural shift away from physical testing for certification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Crist responded with a story: \u201cWe were in a meeting trying to apply Agile software development to hardware development. One mechanical engineer said, \u2018Software delivers features every two weeks. What do you expect us to do\u2014cut metal?\u2019\u201d Of course, digital tools could be used in this scenario to ensure that mechanical designs remain up-to-date with the latest from the software teams, but sometimes important context is missed on a computer screen. Instead, the team improvised by creating a cardboard mock-up in the break room. \u201cThat let us answer design questions we couldn\u2019t easily address in CAD,\u201d Crist explained. Ultimately, shift-left is not about going fully virtual in all situations. Rather, companies should focus on using the right model for the question at hand. Sometimes that\u2019s a high-fidelity simulation; other times, it\u2019s a physical mock-up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Role of Digital Twins in Development<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Virtual tools are still crucial and offer significant advantages in cost, flexibility, and speed. Scot shared an example from a top-five OEM: \u201cThey pointed to a hardware rig used for validation and said, \u2018We want to replace that with a virtual equivalent.\u2019\u201d The cost and complexity of the physical rig made virtual alternatives attractive for this OEM. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2024\/12\/DigitalTwin-Visual2024-Product_medium-1024x576.jpeg\" alt=\"Digital Twin tools can pair with physical solutions to offer speed, accuracy and flexibility\" class=\"wp-image-11188\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2024\/12\/DigitalTwin-Visual2024-Product_medium-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2024\/12\/DigitalTwin-Visual2024-Product_medium-600x338.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2024\/12\/DigitalTwin-Visual2024-Product_medium-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2024\/12\/DigitalTwin-Visual2024-Product_medium-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2024\/12\/DigitalTwin-Visual2024-Product_medium-2048x1152.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2024\/12\/DigitalTwin-Visual2024-Product_medium-395x222.jpeg 395w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2024\/12\/DigitalTwin-Visual2024-Product_medium-900x506.jpeg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>However, Morrison cautioned that a hybrid approach is often necessary: \u201cSafety systems may still require full hardware testing. There\u2019s a continuum in development.\u201d The goal is to build solutions that support the entire flow, not just isolated components.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dale Tutt tied this back to the importance of a comprehensive digital twin: \u201cIt really emphasizes how critical a comprehensive digital twin is\u2014connecting across domains so you can understand your system, perform virtual verification, and even use cardboard mock-ups if needed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Embracing Change and Navigating the Journey<\/strong> <strong>of Digitalization<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As the episode wrapped up, Mike encouraged companies to challenge assumptions: \u201cDisruptors take niche applications or approaches and turn them mainstream. They break away from long-held beliefs about how things \u2018should\u2019 be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Morrison added that transformation is a journey: \u201cYou can\u2019t drop in a new development flow without understanding where they are and what their goals are. Our job is to be part of that journey\u2014identify high-value, easy-to-adopt steps and guide them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tutt summarized the series by highlighting the themes of complexity, collaboration, and digital transformation: \u201cThis is an ecosystem, and bringing everything together with our customers is vital.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Siemens Digital Industries Software<\/strong>\u00a0helps organizations of all sizes digitally transform using software, hardware and services from the <a href=\"https:\/\/xcelerator.siemens.com\/global\/en.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Siemens Xcelerator<\/a> business platform. Siemens\u2019 software and the comprehensive digital twin enable companies to optimize their design, engineering and manufacturing processes to turn today\u2019s ideas into the sustainable products of the future. From chips to entire systems, from product to process, across all industries.\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.siemens.com\/software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Siemens Digital Industries Software<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Accelerating transformation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Industry experts discuss how artificial intelligence, shift-left strategies, and digital twins are transforming development processes and driving digital transformation across aerospace and defense.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":69073,"featured_media":9483,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spanish_translation":"","french_translation":"","german_translation":"","italian_translation":"","polish_translation":"","japanese_translation":"","chinese_translation":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1,63],"tags":[2151,853,194,11,2,8374,4],"industry":[113,120],"product":[],"coauthors":[8377],"class_list":["post-12578","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-featured","tag-aerospace","tag-automotive","tag-digital-transformation","tag-digital-twin","tag-digitalization","tag-siemens-xcelerator","tag-simulation","industry-aerospace-defense","industry-automotive-transportation"],"featured_image_url":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2023\/05\/Fig-2.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/thought-leadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12578","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/thought-leadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/thought-leadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/thought-leadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/69073"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/thought-leadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12578"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/thought-leadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12578\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12665,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/thought-leadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12578\/revisions\/12665"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/thought-leadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9483"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/thought-leadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12578"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/thought-leadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12578"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/thought-leadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12578"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/thought-leadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=12578"},{"taxonomy":"product","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/thought-leadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product?post=12578"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/thought-leadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=12578"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}