7 ways AR Technology Makes Smart Manufacturing Even Smarter

Augmented Reality (AR) is ‘ready for business’ and one of the biggest opportunities to exploit this technology lies in industrial manufacturing and design. Enterprises and manufacturers have ventured into what is now known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0). While multiple technologies like IoT and AI play a pivotal role in this transition, AR is revolutionizing the manufacturing industry by improving efficiency, effectiveness, and ultimately productivity.

AR software solutions promise to improve industrial manufacturing and design by building immersive experiences, which unite the physical and virtual worlds. Statistics reveal the use of AR and VR in product and service development could provide a $360 billion GDP boost by 2030. AR makes smart manufacturing even smarter by speeding up diagnostics, increasing operating safety, reducing production downtime, and providing the users with the right information at the right time to resolve the problem.

Let us dig deeper into a few ways in which AR makes manufacturing more efficient than before:

1. Rapid Prototyping and Product Designing

Increasing competition in the manufacturing industry forces companies to deliver greater innovations quickly and more efficiently. This is where AR can make a real difference by enhancing the existing product and service design using entirely new techniques without spending a fortune.

Automotive companies, for example, are already leveraging the benefits of AR by cutting down their manufacturing time between initial design and physical modeling from weeks to days. The time consumed to build the physical prototypes and then transform them into new products is drastically reduced. This brings ideas and innovations to life and products to market quickly, collaboratively, and efficiently.

2. Immersive Training and Faster Ramp-Up Time

AR-powered training and knowledge transfer will be extremely valuable if you are facing an aging workforce and need to train the next generation. Through special AR tools, technicians and mechanics receive on-the-spot training with experienced engineers. The learning curve can be shortened with real-time guidance and instant access to documentation resources. The value of virtual collaboration for training and up-skilling has also increased due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Workflows running on smart glasses, guide the employees throughout their training enabling them to use their hands for the assigned task. AR development companies nowadays provide efficient immersive training solutions which are quicker, easier and cost-effective. Bosch has recently trained nearly 10,000 service technicians on direct injection and braking technology using AR glasses complemented with a guided 3D tour of the inside of a car engine. Complementing this visualization with data analytics, AR software allows the virtual instructor to monitor the student's progress and tweak tasks accordingly.

3. Facilitating More Efficient Processes

AR software solutions can overlay images and information over the real-world work environment using cameras, depth, and motion sensors. As a result, engineers could improve their efficiency by seeing the renderings of part numbers, cables, and bolts along with assembly instructions. The wearable AR devices provide accurate data on the go within the operator’s line of sight which helps him to work without interruption.

4. Conceptual Design Evaluation

If you are planning to expand or redesign your factory, AR’s visualization capabilities can help you to see the changes in the real context, and test the layout and design without having to move a piece of equipment or furniture. This enables you to find out the potential troubles and plan accordingly. It speeds up the decision- making and prevents costly mistakes.

5. Reduces Maintenance Tasks and Time

Maintenance, repair, and overhaul are streamlined efficiently with the introduction of the AR device which correctly shows the exact hardware and equipment that may require servicing and gives notification of the potential issues that could arise. The guesswork of the maintenance team is eliminated, which in turn quickens the repair, response, and recovery time.

If you face a significant production downtime, it will cost you a huge financial loss. However, with the advent of AR devices, the technical team can quickly narrow down the flaws in your system before they become critical, allowing them to be fixed before they cause any downtime.

6. Remote Repair with Industry Experts

One of the challenging issues faced by the manufacturing industry is how to tap the expertise of the specialists, especially for the units in remote locations. AR devices and integrated software allow technicians to receive assistance from experts by having a direct view of the machine, regardless of the location in real-time. AR technology is successfully implemented in US car dealerships to help mechanics connect with Porsche specialists located in Atlanta. According to Porsche's analysis, the new system allowed them to cut the time required to solve service problems by 40%.

7. Assisted Site Surveys

Using the AR technology you will be able to guarantee that all data is captured and retained during the assisted site surveys. This can even be done by trainees through instructions and guidance. Such evidence ensures traceability too which proves that scheduled maintenance was carried out at the proper juncture.

AR’s role in smart manufacturing will continue to expand as enterprises tap into its versatility, demonstrating that man and machine work brilliantly in tandem. As a professional AR development company, we assist you to get started with this cutting-edge technology for your manufacturing needs to achieve remote access, skill retention, and operational productivity.