Augmented Reality (AR) offers a wide range of solutions to many challenges in industry: operative training, asset maintenance, optimising logistics and quality inspections are just some of the applications of AR that help to pave the way for smart manufacturing.
Major companies have made use of AR-based technologies for years to optimise all kinds of processes. AR transforming power is a decisive factor in creating smart factories.
In this article we will show you a range of applications of augmented reality that can be used to contribute towards making the shift towards smart factories and we describe some success stories in different industries.
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Augmented reality boosts efficiency in industry
One of the first case of use of AR in the industrial sector was the installation of assets, that is, creating a virtual view of the asset and seeing it in the actual site from the planning phase to final assembly; this effectively contributes towards speeding up the process and prevents errors from arising.
This application of AR has progressed so much that large corporations are no longer the only ones to use it. Some industrial SMEs also rely on this technology to optimise the core of their services.
Optimising quality, training and maintenance with augmented reality
In a previous article of the Aritex blog, ‘How Augmented Reality can help me with my business’ , we explained the advantages of AR in optimising industrial maintenance, machinery assembly and training of new operatives. The key factor is that AR enables us to access precise instructions applied directly onto reality, with the option of having two hands free to work with.
Let’s see some new success stories about quality inspections, training and industrial maintenance.
Optimised quality inspections with augmented reality
Quality inspection is a critical process for businesses that specialise in supplying parts to large aircraft construction companies. A supplier of Airbus relies on augmented reality provided by Aritex to optimise quality and reduce errors to zero.
How? By developing a step-by-step inspection system that enables it to check the suitability of its product right down to the last detail.
The objective in this particular case is to ensure that all the drill holes bored in the parts that will be fitted into the aircraft fuselage are effectively masked to prevent electricity from being conducted to undesired areas.
Before the AR checking system was implemented, an average of 1,100 errors a year were detected. And repairing each error cost an average of 600€. Now there are no more errors thanks to augmented reality. Not a single one. The outcome: increased client trust and a yearly saving of over 600,000€.
Training operatives with augmented reality
One of the most outstanding projects developed by Aritex in AR training was implemented at the SEAT/CUPRA plant in Martorell, near Barcelona.
In this particular case the training was for assembling the brake lines for a range of different models. The system consisted of three phases:
- Individual training of each operative with complete step-by-step instructions guided by augmented reality.
- Self-assessment of training with step-by-step instructions.
- Examination of skills acquisition in which the operatives do not receive step-by-step instructions but are only shown the area where they have to intervene. To complete this phase, the operatives verify each completed action with a photograph.
The success of this initiative was such that other companies in the automotive sector are also developing training AR-based training applications for their operatives.
Industrial maintenance at smart factories with augmented reality
Another success story at SEAT was the design of preventive maintenance systems for the door transport machinery on the assembly lines for different models manufactured at the SEAT/CUPRA plant in Martorell (Barcelona).
The AR system is used to check all the elements in the machinery. For example; if the compensator wheel is not perfectly aligned with the guide, the system sends an alert. This prevents the problem from worsening, when previously an incident of this nature would have led to unscheduled stoppages.
Other applications of AR for smart factories
Augmented reality is also very useful for companies that specialise in logistics and storage or that have a large number of references in their warehouses. One particular use in this case is AR-guided picking and putting activities.
One highly effective use of AR in production is in guiding operatives when assembling highly complex products. Efficiency can be boosted by providing precise instructions in AR to comply with all the specifications of complex variants for products with low demand, that operatives are not used to assembling.
Augmented reality is fast becoming a resource to bear in mind to optimise a wide range of processes. Major corporations have been improving the efficiency of their processes with this technology for many years and the results they are obtaining with this change are encouraging them to extend the use of AR to new business areas.
