Optimizing Industrial Operations with Augmented Reality

Optimizing Industrial Operations with Augmented Reality

Optimizing Industrial Operations with Augmented Reality

Added value even for experienced operators

In a constantly evolving industrial landscape, augmented reality (AR) emerges as a transformative tool, bridging the gap between human expertise and digital processes. While often associated with assisting novices, AR’s continued use by experienced operators provides undeniable advantages, particularly in managing operational complexity and ensuring process traceability.

Jean philippe coté
Jean-Philippe Côté
Projet leader - Operational Excellence

Managing Operational Complexity

Even for seasoned personnel, complex industrial processes pose a risk of errors. Numerous steps and precise specifications can lead to oversights or failures, resulting in significant time and material losses, or even the rejection of entire batches. Augmented reality, via smart glasses, overlays critical information directly into the operator’s field of vision, minimizing downtime and ensuring strict adherence to procedures at every stage.

Traceability and Quality Assurance

In regulated industries like aerospace or food production, action traceability and compliance are crucial. Deepsight technology, integrated into augmented reality devices, offers an innovative solution to record who performed a task, when, and under what conditions. Features such as audio-video recording and photo capture upon task completion not only ensure operational accuracy but also provide irrefutable proof of processes followed.

In the pharmaceutical industry, rigor in each production step is essential, particularly during product changes on a labeling line. This process, known as “line clearance,” ensures that no previous product is mislabeled with incorrect information. Typically, this involves meticulous inspection, where employees must sometimes remove components like gears and belts to check that no vials or bottles remain trapped in the mechanism.

Augmented reality guides operators through these cleaning steps with precision and enables documentation of the process. For instance, requiring operators to take a photo of a specific area post-cleaning serves both as a reminder of their responsibility and proof that the area was properly inspected and cleaned. This technological approach adds an extra layer of safety and compliance by tracking precisely who performed each task, when, and how, reducing the risk of cross-contamination and enhancing action traceability within the production line.

A recent incident involving missing screws on the doors of Boeing 737-900ER planes highlights the importance of verification systems. AR could have been employed for systematic safety checks before takeoff, ensuring all critical components, like door bolts, were correctly installed and secured. This application is relevant in both service centers and assembly plants.

Equipment Inspection

A concrete use case for this technology is equipment inspection by a technician, supported remotely by an engineer or expert. The technician, equipped with an AR headset, receives real-time instructions superimposed on their field of vision. During the inspection, the engineer or expert, located remotely, can see exactly what the technician sees and provide precise, instant guidance. This approach enables rapid problem resolution, improved inspection efficiency, and reduced equipment downtime. Deepsight Connect is an excellent tool for allowing the expert to see what the technician sees and understand their positioning within the environment.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the continuous integration of augmented reality into industrial processes represents a significant advancement, enabling faster, safer, and more compliant execution, even in routine operations. Its application extends beyond training novices to offering measurable improvements in quality, cost, and lead time for experienced operators. In an era where precision and efficiency are paramount, augmented reality stands as a cornerstone of Industry 4.0, facilitating daily management and transitions to breakthrough innovations.

Contact us today to discover how augmented reality can revolutionize your operations!

Discover more : https://www.eficio.ca/en/cio-office/augmented-reality-as-a-service/