The global costs of virtual and augmented reality could double every year until 2021 (IDC).
We are in the midst of a major shift in production – and how well the company views this and adapting to it is critical to their future.
In recent years, AR development companies have taken many initiatives to shift to “Industry 4.0” or “Factory 4.0” – embodying the idea that digital technology is radically changing the way manufacturing works.
Augmented reality development for industry 4.0 – An Outlook
The use of VR and AR in manufacturing and AR development companies that use the term Industry 4.0 is not an invention. This is happening as we speak and will accelerate as benefits become clearer proposals, hardware and applications mature and move to the next level, and manufacturers step up their digital transformation efforts on a strategic and gradual path to reach Industry 4.0 and the digital transformation of production.
Use cases of augmented reality in Industry 4.0
- Major values and assets
AR and VR are ubiquitous in all of these and other applications, even in high-tech industrial productions.
Training, assembly, and safety in process manufacturing are some of the key applications of VR and AR.
- Check the circuit board unit
PCB assemblies (PCBA) are used in nearly all modern electronic devices and are based on the construction of very precise small components.
The density of components can make fully automated detection a challenge, and PCBA manufacturers often need human experience to maintain quality.
- Polished surface quality assessment
Polishing is used in almost any area to achieve optimal surface properties and excellent material strength. Although most stages can be performed automatically, highly skilled operators are best placed to ensure the highest quality at the final polishing stage.
To reduce the overall time and cost, AR was introduced in this study to quickly assess surface quality at the final stage of the production process.
- Cognitive support for the assembly process
Operators are increasingly exposed to physical and psychological stress and experience the effects of separate attention when switching between reading instructions and performing tasks. Because it is possible to increase error rates and slow assembly times, AR can help operators focus only on information related to their current task.
AR was found to be the least stressful method for inexperienced operators, and AR reduces errors at all skill levels. This allows for flexible operation of the production line, as employees can be assigned new assignments quickly and with minimal disruption if necessary.
- Importance of maintenance use cases
The number of VR / AR applications is enormous and manufacturing, transportation, logistics (Logistics 4.0) and other markets in area 4.0 are not currently the only ones.
The use and nature of VR / AR applications in manufacturing and related AR development companies are increasing, with the current focus on training and safety to name two, and an increasing focus on separate manufacturing, manufacturing, and process support in the US and Canada located in Western Europe.
Augmented reality development – The PwC survey
- 3D printing to increase flexibility and responsiveness to changing customer conditions and needs.
- Smart sensors that provide a better overview of industrial infrastructure developments at any time.
- Big data analytics and sophisticated algorithms that companies can use to derive actionable business intelligence from the collected data.
- Multi-level customer interactions and customer profiles through a tightly integrated CRM system so that large companies can gain and maintain a holistic view of their customer relationships.
- Augmented Reality (AR) and wearable technology offer a variety of benefits in manufacturing, repair, and operational tasks.
End thoughts
While there are many unresolved technical challenges, the biggest obstacle to adopting AR in the industry is organizational change. This use case serves as a proof of concept for the huge technical and qualitative advantages that AR can bring to Industry 4.0 and offers a preview of the operational customization that AR requires.
