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Augmented Reality for Manufacturing Companies

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Augmented Reality for Manufacturing Companies

AR software allows engineers to view 3-D models of their products on a device’s screen. It also includes tools like a virtual ruler, which automatically creates precise dimensions for components and machines.

AR software lets manufacturing businesses offer complicated technical training for new hires and upskilling opportunities for experienced workers. It can also provide workforce access to clear illustrations, digital checklists, and step-by-step holographic instructions to reduce errors.

Identifying and Tracking Assets

AR has been shown to improve asset management by simplifying tracking and identifying equipment. Mobile computer vision-enabled smart devices that support AR can scan a piece of equipment to instantly display data on its condition, maintenance history, and more. The ability to quickly identify a specific machine in real-time allows staff to make more informed repair decisions and reduce the time required to complete tasks.

AR also provides the capability to see a 3D model of an object or part, as well as its dimensions. This information can help with planning, design, and development processes. AR can also enhance training by allowing instructors to remotely interact with students while they perform hands-on exercises in a virtual environment.

Augmented reality is a powerful tool that can help manufacturing companies reduce maintenance costs and downtime by providing remote assistance. For example, Rockwell Automation offers an AR app that lets operators, technicians, and engineers use their smartphone to request live help from a colleague for troubleshooting a mechanical issue that could slow down production.

Companies can further develop AR technology to make it more useful for their customers by integrating it with other transformational technologies such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. The combination of these three will allow manufacturers to better understand the context in which their products are used and offer solutions to address any issues that may arise.

Creating a Digital Twin

A digital twin is an immersive virtual replica of an object, system or process. It’s typically used to analyze, model and perform simulations to help improve performance and eliminate bottlenecks. Taking this approach can lead to cost savings and better decision-making.

In a manufacturing setting, augmented reality technology can quickly create a digital twin to allow workers to visualize products and systems. It can also provide access to engineering augmented reality manufacturing companies drawings, parts lists, technical documents and ergonomics data. This allows employees to troubleshoot and resolve issues faster and more efficiently, improving productivity.

For example, if a delivery drone sustains minor wing damage on a flight, the company can use a digital twin to determine whether it’s safe to land or continue flying. This type of real-time virtual assessment helps businesses avoid costly downtime and meet customers’ expectations.

The resulting digital twin can be made available to internal and external stakeholders via VR, AR, or even IoT applications. For instance, Matterport offers an easy-to-use platform that uses AI to capture images and digitize them into a navigable 3D virtual space. This enables construction teams to collaborate more effectively, iterate designs more rapidly and achieve photorealistic renderings with a high level of detail.

Another example is Passive Logic’s smart building platform that uses an AI engine to engineer and autonomously operate IoT systems in buildings. It delivers advanced monitoring and analytics, synchronizes devices through integrated control systems, and learns from sensor data to continuously optimize operations.

Providing Product Training

Augmented reality is a powerful tool for training employees, especially in the manufacturing industry. It helps them learn how to use equipment and understand complicated processes without having to rely on a human trainer. Additionally, augmented reality can help with safety training by using immersive environments to walk them through potentially hazardous scenarios augmented reality manufacturing companies and providing real-time reactions such as visual warnings or audio prompts if they don’t follow proper safety protocol.

Moreover, augmented reality can make it easier to assemble complex products by overlaying work instructions or information with 3D models. This can make the process simpler and faster, as well as reduce errors. For example, in a pilot project conducted by GE Renewable Energy and software provider Upskill, an AR-enabled smart glass helped a technician wire a wind turbine, saving him 34.5% of his assembly time compared to the traditional method.

Other applications of AR in manufacturing include enhancing warehouse operations by superimposing inventory management data such as barcodes and expiration dates onto physical entities. This can make it easier for employees to find items quickly. Snap and Farfetch are two companies that have already incorporated this technology into their apps. Both use gesture recognition to allow customers to signal to the app that they want to try on another handbag or see a piece of clothing in a different color.

Enhancing Workplace Safety

AR technology uses the camera on a mobile device to alter the real world by overlaying digital information onto it. The hardware needed for AR — processors, input devices and display sensors — is already available in most modern cell phones.

When it comes to industrial work, this kind of augmented reality can make a big difference in worker productivity and safety. It can help workers to quickly locate parts, complete maintenance tasks and stay on top of a project without having to leave their workspace.

AR can also enable employees to learn how to operate complex and dangerous equipment in a controlled environment. This virtual training can save time, reduce the hazard of attempting to operate unfamiliar equipment and ensure that all employees have the necessary skills before they begin working in an actual manufacturing facility.

For example, if a worker needs to replace a component in a machine, they can use AR to identify the exact part that is required. They can then connect remotely with a subject matter expert who can view the situation in AR and provide instructions to fix the issue.

Another way that augmented reality can improve manufacturing operations is by providing data that supports health and safety inspections. AR can be used to record and validate that a worker has visited all of the required checkpoints on a piece of machinery during an inspection. This can prevent an inspector from overlooking a crucial safety feature.

Augmented Reality in Manufacturing

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Augmented Reality in Manufacturing

Competition, technological trends, environmental regulations and customer expectations put pressure on manufacturing companies to increase speed and reduce costs. To meet these challenges, they need to look for efficient and innovative ways of improving business operations.

One such technology is augmented reality (AR). It is an immersive experience that overlays digital constructs directly in the field of view.

Product Development

Augmented reality (AR) can accelerate manufacturing production and rethink product design, prototyping, and testing. It also enables cost-saving operational efficiencies in engineering, service and field operations. For example, a manufacturer can use AR to visualize assembly processes, set up automation lines, and perform virtual quality assurance inspections in the field.

Choosing the right partner for your AR project depends on your business’s specific needs. Choose a company with a solid record of customer satisfaction and a strong reputation for high adaptability, responsiveness, and proactivity. Look for a partner who can provide you with the services you need, such as designing AR apps, developing 3D models, and creating VR experiences.

Some companies specialize in the development of AR platforms, experiences and content; other develop utility tools that aid manufacturers. Healthcare is another growing area for AR; companies like AccuVein and SentiAR have built AR tools to help doctors locate veins in patients during invasive procedures. These tools enable more accurate and efficient patient care. Similarly, AR can help streamline medical training and provide remote expert support during complicated surgical procedures.

Design Review

In large production facilities, every second of downtime can cost revenue. AR/VR can significantly cut that downtime by allowing workers to quickly identify and resolve issues with equipment and improve workflow efficiency.

Sophisticated AR applications require highly accurate and detailed digital product representations. These can be adapted from 3-D models created during product development or from digitization techniques such as 3D scanning. Some AR experiences may also tap real-time data streams from enterprise business systems or other sources to supplement the augmentations with contextual information.

Using AR, warehouse employees can get instructions augmented reality manufacturing companies for picking and returning items to storage more efficiently. The location, specs inventory, and condition of the item can all be displayed on the worker’s display, and he or she can easily find what is needed.

Look for a VR/AR company that can build a metaverse platform based on your unique needs and business objectives. Make sure the vendor can offer a scalable solution that meets your budget. Check if they can provide services like design, production, and testing; and if they have an in-house team that works from start to finish.

Production Planning

AR enables companies to streamline processes within a manufacturing environment. Using headsets such as the Oculus and HoloLens, employees can access additional data and detailed context around the products they are working on, which reduces production time and improves quality.

In the product development stage, AR helps to refine and optimise designs at an early stage. This allows designers to review, adjust and modify digital models and prototypes quickly, which ultimately translates to great products. The technology can also help to communicate design changes in real-time to directors or executives, which can accelerate the process.

Once a project has been approved, it’s important to monitor and maintain the system. This includes regularly evaluating user feedback and adjusting the system accordingly. It also involves training employees to use the new technology. Projection-based AR, for instance, displays information directly in a worker’s line of sight without interfering with their vision or taking their hands off the task at hand. This provides more efficient access to manual and automated process data, such as cycle times or defects.

Inspections

AR provides a venue for simulating real-world activities and situations in a semi-virtual way. It helps trainees practice different tasks without putting themselves or others at risk. It also reduces training time by allowing employees to access the necessary manual information and data in the virtual world.

When it comes to quality assurance, augmented reality helps manufacturers track manual process and automated metrics at the same time. The best AR solutions capture minute data points like cycle times, product defects and more. These consolidated data sets help identify the exact moments enterprise-level inefficiencies occur and offer insights on how to improve them.

Moreover, AR technology makes it easier for workers to augmented reality manufacturing companies inspect products before shipping them out. Previously, workers would have to physically walk around the product and look at it to check its condition. With augmented reality, workers can instantly see if the product has any dents or scratches on it. This is a significant improvement on previous inspection methods and can save companies money by eliminating the need to rework defective products.

Training

Augmented Reality software for manufacturing is a valuable tool for companies that seek to boost productivity, increase efficiency, and provide a better work environment. However, the key to successful implementation is identifying and developing specific use cases for AR technology. This process involves assessing existing business processes and technologies to determine how they can be improved through the use of AR.

For example, an auto manufacturer could use AR to help technicians disassemble complex car engines. An augmented reality headset would display a detailed 3D model of the engine, overlaid with interactive controls that offer real-time step-by-step work instructions. Workers can view the model from any angle and zoom in to see the finer details. The augmented reality system will track manual processes and data points such as cycle times, defects, and more.

There are a variety of different AR development companies that develop platforms, experiences, and content for AR use in manufacturing. These include: development companies that build AR applications; production companies & studios that create immersive video content and products; and hardware manufacturers that vend AR devices, software, and content.

How Augmented Reality Can Benefit Manufacturing Companies

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augmented reality manufacturing companies

How Augmented Reality Can Benefit Manufacturing Companies

Unlike virtual reality (VR), AR utilizes mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. It enables people to see overlaid information on their surroundings and works well in environments where it is difficult to navigate or read printed instructions.

For example, an automotive manufacturer could provide technicians with detailed instructions on disassembling and repairing car engines. This would help them reduce downtime and improve quality.

1. Digital Twin Development

A digital twin is a virtual representation of a physical product or process. Using data from sensors, it can help you study the real-world behavior of an asset or process. This can lead to operational benefits such as reducing unplanned downtime, improving quality, or optimizing production. It can also drive strategic benefits when machine learning on actual-world data improves products, services, or business processes.

The digital reinvention underway in asset-intensive industries demands an integrated view of products and equipment, facilities, and work processes. A digital twin — a core Industry 4.0 technology — provides one augmented reality manufacturing companies conduit to make this connection and provide new, critical insights for cost reduction, efficiency improvement, and reliable business outcomes.

For example, the Volvo Group, a global manufacturer of trucks, construction equipment, and industrial engines, leveraged a digital twin to create an AR experience that streamlines inspections. Traditionally, their inspections involved paper checklists with 40 tests and about 200 possible QA variants that had to be completed within eight minutes at the QA station. This augmented reality solution was able to save them weeks of training and reduce unplanned downtime.

For manufacturers to benefit from these new immersive technologies, they must also deploy the appropriate IT network infrastructure. This requires a shift to more advanced bandwidth, latency, and performance requirements. It will also require the use of advanced processing, storage, and analytics solutions at the network edge to manage the data deluge from these technologies.

2. Virtual Inspection

Getting products from concept to the assembly line and to customers as quickly as possible is critical for manufacturing companies. This requires that engineers can develop new prototypes in short order while minimizing the number of errors and ensuring high-quality production. This is where AR and VR come in.

Using virtual inspection, workers can see a 3D representation of an element and inspect it inside and out, enabling them to catch errors during the design process and correct mistakes before they become costly issues later in production. The technology also helps with training and educating workers on complex machinery and equipment in a safe, experiential way.

In addition, augmented reality can also help to minimize downtime and eliminate machine breakdowns, which can be costly for businesses. During maintenance, the technology can be used to compare an existing site or asset with the original designs/BIM model, perform quick measurements, and document findings in real-time.

AR technology can even provide a remote support capability. The use of projector-based AR enables technicians to connect in a virtual space and provide live video, on-screen annotations, and artificial intelligence insights to troubleshoot or resolve work orders. This allows highly skilled technicians to focus on high-value customers, complex repairs, and supporting other employees in the field. This is an ideal solution for manufacturers to avoid the cost and disruption of sending field service staff out on site.

3. Automation

For manufacturing companies to be successful, they must have a workflow that minimizes downtime and ensures a consistent product. One of the best ways to do that is by automating routine tasks using AR.

The most advanced AR software solutions can detect the slightest motions in a work environment and track them for patterns that indicate inefficiencies. This information is aggregated to provide insights about how to optimize a process or equipment layout. For example, when a part with intricate designs comes down an assembly line, it’s important for workers to know where to lay the padding, glue, and wire harnesses. With digital work instructions in AR, these placements can be mapped out to match the exact design of the part so that errors are reduced and production efficiency is increased.

Augmented reality can also make it easier for new and existing employees to train on equipment and processes. These specialized apps can display three-dimensional models and holograms of equipment, along with real-time instructions that guide employees through the necessary steps to operate or service it. In this way, manufacturers can ensure a high-quality product without relying on costly onsite training.

Some manufacturers, such as Thyssenkrupp, have even integrated AR into their design processes so that directors can view a project in real-time and offer feedback to teams instantly. This can save significant time in the product design process and create a more collaborative and productive workspace.

4. Remote Maintenance

Aside from reducing downtime and increasing efficiency, industrial AR helps companies to provide better customer service and support. This is done by enabling technicians augmented reality manufacturing companies to connect remotely with an expert for visual assistance in an audiovisual, interactive environment. This can range from providing simple instructions to guiding workers through complex processes such as disassembling an engine.

Manufacturers can also use AR to improve safety in their factories. They can simulate dangerous scenarios to educate employees about safety protocols and display real-time reactions such as visual warnings or audio prompts when an employee is not following protocol. This can help to avoid accidents and reduce the need for costly repairs or downtime.

Another advantage of AR for manufacturing is allowing technicians to work independently with step-by-step digital instructions and guidance. For example, if an assembly worker is trying to install a new piece of equipment and it’s not fitting properly, they can get real-time feedback from an expert to resolve the problem. This can save time and ensure the quality of the product. It also allows manufacturers to save on labor costs by freeing up highly skilled technicians to focus on complex or risky tasks. In addition, they can quickly access operational documentation and resolve issues. This is known as remote maintenance. The technology works on mobile devices or smart glasses, enabling field technicians to self-guide with clear visual instructions for each work order.