How to put industrial augmented reality into practice — step by step
The introduction of AR in industries is a challenge in itself. Companies that opt for smart manufacturing have to take numerous factors into account. Concrete planning of the necessary steps, documentation of required technologies, and process documentation are among the most important upfront measures.
The good thing is that industrial augmented reality pays for itself quickly. This timely time-to-value can be additionally increased by company-specific software developments or adaptations. That said, specialized applications are by no means required for companies to get started with Augmented Reality for Industry. Instead, AR in industries promises a fast ROI.
Step 1: Define business cases
Before companies introduce AR for industries, it is important to identify relevant business cases. They can be used to specifically measure the success of the implementation. Regardless of whether the goal is a general increase in sales or a reduction in warehouse costs: Measurable measures are the basis for an excellent result.
Common challenges that industrial augmented reality can help companies with include: Training employees, creating service documentation, virtual demonstrations or product visualizations.
Step 2: Communication and cooperation
Industrial augmented reality is only successful if it improves the general work situation. Therefore, it must save time in the smart warehouse and manufacturing on the one hand, and improve results on the other.
These requirements for industrial augmented reality can only be mastered with sufficient communication and cooperation. This includes, for example, that different departments or company divisions accompany the introduction of the technology. Finally, different groups of people can specifically name potential obstacles and risks. This in turn means that these factors can be adjusted early on during the introduction of augmented reality in industry.
Clearly identifying helpful tools or obstructive workflows is not only useful, but contributes to the long-term success of augmented reality in Industry. A strict top-down implementation is not recommended for topics like Augmented Reality in Manufacturing.
Step 3: Implement AR step by step
It is advisable to implement Augmented Reality in Manufacturing step by step. Wearables like data glasses are designed to help employees do their jobs more efficiently and effectively. Nevertheless, it takes time to get used to these new technologies. So it’s by no means enough to just load up the smart glasses software and hand out the wearables. Instead, detailed training and education should accompany the introduction of industrial augmented reality.
Initially, an additional test phase with a selected group of future users is a good idea. Through repeated iterations, it is possible to eliminate unclear or confusing parts of the user experience and replace them with conducive patterns. The result is the so-called “minimal valuable product”. It is a form of implementation that has enormous potential for improvement. Nevertheless, augmented reality can already be used purposefully in Industry. An important advantage of these small subsections is that it is easier for companies to measure and verify the results.