AR can be used in production to make new processes more efficient, enhance worker safety, improve communication, and develop new design ideas faster than ever before. This article will elaborate further about why you should invest in augmented reality in manufacturing, what type of businesses you can target with this technology, and how you can implement AR into your business today.
Why You Should Invest in Augmented Reality in Manufacturing
AR is one of the next most powerful tools businesses can use to make their operations more efficient. AR can help with many common challenges that manufacturing businesses experience, including better communication between workers, safer work environments, higher quality of products, and lower costs. Manufacturers today have more options than ever before to increase efficiency. With the rise in the popularity of AR, enterprises are discovering the many benefits of this technology. Also, in many cases, AR can be less expensive than virtual reality, which carries great potential, but isn’t suitable for all industrial uses. AR is a technology that uses computer vision to overlay digital information over the real environment. This can be used to create realistic 3D models, GPS tracking, virtual buttons, and much more. AR can help manufacturers make their operations more efficient by improving worker safety, improving communication, streamlining design, and enabling efficient predictive maintenance.
What is Augmented Reality?
Augmented reality supplements real life with digital additions.
Similar to how a smartphone shows you the information on your screen when you’re looking at it from across the room, AR is when you have that same ability with the bonus of seeing the information in the environment around you. This includes being able to see what someone is doing, like holding a graph or drawing with a stylus, or being able to see exactly where someone is in the office, like a remote worker. Users can take pictures of their surroundings, annotate them, share them with others, and use digital pictures to see what’s underneath, e.g. in working machines.
How Does Augmented Reality In Manufacturing Work?
AR manufacturers can use a Computer Vision Camera to overlay digital information over the real environment. AR might be used to show employees how to use a machine, how to install a part, or how to use a new tool. This information can be delivered to workers via AR so they don’t have to walk to another room to get it. This can be especially helpful if there are a lot of machines or if the machines are in another room. Moreover, using AR reduces the time necessary for staff training, enabling convenient on-the-job training while wearing dedicated equipment (check Nsflow). With AR, technicians don’t need to carry paper manuals and flip through them any time an unusual malfunction occurs. Following a digital workflow allows employees to use the appropriate service or maintenance tutorial to solve the issue on the spot or contact a remote expert with the remote support module.
Global Brands Using Augmented Reality In Manufacturing
With the rise in popularity of AR and how it can be used to make business operations more efficient, more and more manufacturing companies are turning to this technology. To present the recognition of AR among the biggest global companies in manufacturing, we present you with a selection of the top brands using augmented reality. Among brands using augmented reality, we can list Boeing, Volvo, BMW, Bosch, General Electric, and many more. These companies are using AR to improve efficiency and increase productivity, making work safer and enhancing communication.
Limitations of Augmented Reality In Manufacturing
AR is a powerful technology, but like any other technology, there are limitations. For example, AR can be difficult to use if there is no internet connection. This can make it difficult for manufacturers to use AR for safety training, maintenance, and job instructions. However, some AR platforms are preset on devices including hotspots, making users independent of external networks. AR is also limited by the camera on most smartphones and laptops, which means that it can be difficult to see the real world from the virtual world. Luckily, dedicated AR devices nowadays come with built-in high-quality and high-fidelity cameras. Another challenge that manufacturers face with AR is that the 3D models provided in AR can be hard to manipulate. This might be because they are created using a complex CAD model, or it might be due to the user’s lack of AR experience. This issue can be bypassed by creating digital models without CAD models, resulting in digital twins based on delivered data.
Conclusion
Augmented reality has the potential to transform the way manufacturers create products, while also improving worker safety, enhancing communication, and expanding productivity. With the rise in popularity of AR, businesses are discovering the many benefits of this technology, including less expensive costs and increased efficiency. Manufacturers today have more options than ever before to increase efficiency. Augmented reality is a future-proof technology, and the manufacturing field is one of the best fields for its adoption.
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