When it comes to manufacturing processes, the overall transformative potential relating to the “extended reality technology”, the umbrella term used for AR/VR, is tied inherently to a demand for non-disruptive performance and continuous production. In competitive business environments, downtime of even a second can result in revenue loss. With VR and AR possibilities that create virtual simulations of nearly every facet involved in the manufacturing processes, the impacts of how it is used could turn out to be extremely revolutionary.
– Prototyping And Design
In these initial stages, Virtual Reality can demonstrate how products could look without having to create physical prototypes. For example, in the automotive sector, Ford Motors is currently making use of its own Ford Immersive Vehicle Environment (FIVE) VR technology well before HTC and Oculus headsets were introduced to the markets. Ford Motors FIVE VR technology creates virtual representations involving non-existent cars to the tiniest of details. These designs have been transmitted into a virtual car environment, which enables engineers to analyze what it will feel like to be in one of these future cars.
At the same time, Virtual Reality technology has gone on to enable Ford Motors to successfully leverage design teams that are remote attracting the top global talent. When working in these virtual environments, physical locations are no longer a requirement or problem.
– Inventory Management
AI algorithms work well to streamline complex processes involved in trying to manage inventory databases, but choosing products from warehouse shelves is still a task that necessitates manual labor. AR technology assists in eliminating confusion by making these processes precise and quick. For example, a worker in a warehouse wearing a Microsoft HoloLens or iPad (or any other type of headset) will receive instructions on the precise location of a specific item, and guidance on the shelf and aisle the item is stored in. This does away with the guesswork or getting lost amongst shelves that look similar. Anyone that has worked inside industrial warehouses will understand the immense value relating to this solution.
– Preventing Disruptions and Accidents
Virtual Reality helps to predict and potentially avoid disruption and hazard risks linked with using assembly lines. When simulating production environments, many manufacturing enterprises can pick up a potential threat and even eliminate it well before it can even arise. The value relating to these solutions is hard to overlook, as it assists with reducing downtime and maintenance and repair expenses while enhancing employee security.
One of these examples relates to Gabler an industrial equipment plant that has integrated virtual reality into its processes of manufacturing. With the assistance of VR technology, this company inspects and analyzes the production line for any potential hazards which helps to ensure quality and safety.
– Real-Time Employee Instruction
VR and AR are used widely for employee education and instruction since it is able to simulate all types of environments and processes.
At www.aircada.com, they have the expertise and skills to create customized solutions that give guidance to the assembly-line workers through each complex detail involved in the production processes in real-time. The workers are provided with Virtual Instructions that are projected into AR glasses or an iPad and they proceed with their work. This assists the company to save weeks or months of drawn-out training and also accounts for doing away with human errors and preventing mistakes.
– Increased Security
When the production processes can be predictably increased so will security increase. VR/AR technology helps eliminate and detect threats and instructs and educates employees which helps to reduce the likelihood of accidents on site.
– Improved Quality
VR/AR brings about an increased accuracy to all aspects relating to industrial manufacturing processes, which ensures faster time-to-the-market and improved quality of the manufactured goods.
– Lowered Expenses
When it comes to the perspective of business, the implementation of VR/AR will account for a reduction in expenses. This is made possible by doing away with expensive trial-and-error phases, which helps businesses to guarantee bottom-line growth.
By offering instructions and guidance in real-time, Virtual Reality solutions help to decrease coaching and training expenses and help companies to reallocate resources when allowing the more experienced employees to focus on the areas that require attention and expertise.
Surely, the implementation of AR or VR in an industrial manufacturing environment will require investment and time. It will also involve meeting challenges such as indicating one or more areas where it should be implemented, integrating this technology into legacy equipment, or support on an employee level, etc. The ideal practices for enterprise-scale AR/VR implementation will involve the launch of pilot projects and how to move on based on the outcome.
