Various embodiments of the present technology relate to digital twins of devices and assemblies. More specifically, some embodiments relate to the orchestration of digital twin models for representing industrial systems based on characteristics of digital twins. In an embodiment, a method of operating an orchestration engine in an industrial automation environment comprises identifying a targeted outcome for modeling the industrial automation environment, configuring a digital twin environment corresponding to the industrial automation environment based at least on the targeted outcome, and executing a process associated with the industrial automation environment using the digital twin environment.

A PC, which is an information processing device, simulates a control program and displays the result of the simulation on a monitor. The PC acquires a value, and identification information identifying a variable for at least one variable at an arbitrary time during the simulation. The PC modifies the control program in accordance with an instruction from a user. The PC simulates the modified control program with the value of the variable identified by the acquired identification information as the value of the acquired variable. The PC displays the result of simulating the modified control program on the monitor.

A distributed process control system having at least one automation unit on the plant side that calculates a plurality of first process variables and influences the process that is connected by first data link to a monitoring system that controls and/or monitors the process. The system has an external computing unit that is connected by a distributed communication mechanism to the automation unit and exchanges data with it using a second data link. The external computing unit calculates a plurality of second process variables that the of the automation unit uses to influence the process. A method for extending the function of at least one plant-side automation unit is also disclosed.