5 Ways to Apply Augmented Reality in Manufacturing

Augmented reality (AR) is having its moment in the spotlight as tech giants like Apple and Meta release enterprise-grade headsets. It’s become clear this technology has applications far beyond entertainment, and these use cases will only grow as AR tech improves. Even now, though, AR in manufacturing has many benefits.

AR projects digital images or text over users’ view of the real world. Unlike its more widespread cousin, virtual reality (VR), it doesn’t fully immerse users in a simulated world but brings the virtual and real together. Here are five ways manufacturers can capitalize on this hybrid technology.

1. Onboard Employees Faster

Onboarding is one of the most beneficial use cases of AR in manufacturing. New hires typically take three to eight months to become fully productive, far too long for manufacturers facing rising labor shortages. AR can help by giving employees needed resources as they work.

AR headsets can display step-by-step instructions or pull up answers to employees’ questions without requiring them to take their hands or attention away from work. These resources mean recruits won’t need as much supervision from veteran workers. As a result, your old workforce can remain productive as new hires get up to speed faster.

AR can help workers follow procedures more consistently, but facilities still need visible instructions, hazard communication, and reliable workplace safety products to reduce day-to-day operational risk.

2. Prevent Production Errors

Similarly, you can use AR to guide employees in managing complicated workflows, like installing sensitive electronics. Workers with a hands-free view of instructions and best practices in their peripheral vision can more easily double-check their work to prevent errors.

Aircraft manufacturers have found this AR application can raise engineer accuracy to 96% while letting them work 30% faster. Fewer errors result in less material and time waste, lowering ongoing expenses.

3. Improve Picking Times

Part picking is another highly beneficial use case for AR in manufacturing. Picking is often one of the most inefficient warehouse processes. Workers spend most of their time walking, and conventional methods make getting lost or selecting the wrong items easy. AR can offer real-time directions to streamline this process and boost its accuracy.

When a picker receives an order for a specific item, AR can direct them to it like a heads-up display in a car shows GPS directions. This removes doubt over the most efficient way to reach the parts needed and ensures they pick the right ones. As a result, picking and workflows relying on it can operate much faster.

4. Streamline Maintenance

Equipment maintenance is another often inefficient manufacturing workflow AR can improve. AR headsets can automatically highlight critical components or measure parts to let technicians understand the issue and its potential fixes more easily. They can then repair the machine faster while making fewer errors.

Unplanned downtime is common in manufacturing, so an effective maintenance strategy is crucial. AR may not prevent breakdowns, but it ensures repair professionals can resolve them more effectively to minimize downtime and related costs.

5. Improve Quality Control

You can also use AR to improve product quality checks. Quality control can easily bottleneck a workflow, but you don’t want to streamline it at the expense of thoroughness, as errors could affect customers. AR ensures workers quickly and accurately inspect products.

Some AR glasses can integrate machine vision technology to highlight potential issues as workers inspect parts. Combining automation and human experience this way provides the most thorough, reliable quality check possible, capitalizing on machines’ efficiency and humans’ adaptability.

AR in Manufacturing Has Many Applications

Using AR in manufacturing is still relatively new, but its potential is immense. As this technology advances and more companies develop manufacturing-specific models, these use cases and benefits will expand even more.

As with any technology, making the most of AR means applying it to the right workflow. That begins with understanding where it can bring value so you can recognize which of your processes can benefit most. Understanding AR’s potential in manufacturing enables you to streamline and refine many workflows.

Emily Newton is a manufacturing and industrial journalist with over 7 years experience covering industry trends. She enjoys exploring how technology can help improve industrial processes.