Nowadays, the fourth industrial revolution is ignoring the boundaries between physics and digital. Thus enabling a series of changes in all manufacturing industries, it offers manufacturers to increase their product lines. Augmented Reality (AR) is making an impact in the 4.0 industry. Also, is one of the important keys to this revolution. Companies of different sizes and fields are using this very promising technology. AR technology provides smart factory operators the chance to experience an augmented world. This is possible by overlaying virtual information in the real world. The operators can be in touch with both the real and virtual worlds. In addition, at the same time receive real-time instructions or data from a remote expert.
The Smart Factory as a highly digitized floor is constantly collecting data through connected machines, equipment, and production systems. Furthermore, at the same time is also facing many challenges that can cause millions of dollars of damage. For this reason, many different businesses are using Augmented Reality as a very beneficial strategy. Also, they are integrating it as part of these smart factories in order to increase productivity and improve revenue. Given that smart factories are advancing day by day the manufacturing plants are experiencing progress as well. Augmented Reality as mentioned above, is a critical component of the 4.0 industry. It has the task of providing solutions as flexibly as possible to optimize workforce performance.
If we were to summarize the facts of what today’s reality proves then we would come to some conclusions. Firstly, AR aims to produce efficient operations by cutting production downtime. Secondly quickly identifying problems aims to maintain all services and processes. Let’s take a closer look at some of the ways AR is improving smart factories:
Maintenance
Using the remote assistance empowered by AR, a maintenance team can see exactly which equipment needs servicing, including finding solutions to potential problems. In this way, they instruct factory technicians to take appropriate action for a quick repair in case of need. Thanks to this remote assistance, technicians manage to repair a device in record time and with great efficiency. Technicians also benefit from wearable devices such as smart glasses that give them the ability to capture hands-free photos at the moment and share those images with remote experts for troubleshooting help. At the same time, they continue to perform their tasks hands-free and are unfocused on external factors.
Improve Training
The training of smart factory operators is quite costly. Then companies have found AR helpful in providing facilitation solutions. At the same time, AR provides real-time visual guidance to connect the inexperienced workforce with specialized experts. Both parties are on to the same room to get knowledge for the same purpose. VSight Remote, for example, has launched the feature of training large groups. This offers unique capabilities to engage the trainees with digital information around them. In addition, enables experts to present to the trainees real situations enhanced with images or even 3D objects. In addition, trainees have the opportunity to reply and communicate directly with experts through the so-called raise hand feature.
AR for Boosting Productivity of Smart Factories
Collaboration through AR Remote Support has proven to increase employee productivity. In many cases, intelligent factories face production downtime due to breakdowns of machinery that can cost companies thousands of dollars. Through the help of Augmented Reality, the information that technicians get in real-time makes it possible to solve these problems. Also, help to identify the defect and prevent downtime from ever happening. AR technology not only improves bilateral communication between experts and technicians but also simplifies teamwork by engaging all staff. Moreover, experts make it possible to instruct technicians in safe areas. Thus maintaining their safety during the performance of their work.
AR for Easily Data Accessibility on Smart Factories
Sessions conducted by AR Remote Support, whether training or instructional on various issues, can now be archived. All this works for a later period, so these materials can be helpful for different purposes. On the one hand, they can be helpful again for early training, but not only. On the other hand, in repeated cases of the same issues in the future, technicians have immediate access to these materials to find the necessary information. Furthermore, managers use these archived sessions also for the purpose of inspecting the performance of the workforce, whether it is fulfilled to the maximum or not. At the same time, they also serve as an example to prevent several repeated errors.
Although the AR concept is no longer unknown, many companies are still on the path to embracing this technology. Today’s conditions of the world have highlighted even more the importance of this technology. This means that we have an increase in the number of AR adoptive companies, as a potential tool to radically change smart factories and the way all processes are carried out. Noting only some of the aforementioned benefits of this technology, companies are also encouraged to decide to accept AR Remote Assistance as an innovative way to produce efficient operations by cutting down production downtime, quickly identifying the problems, and keeping all the services and processes going.
