1. How Could the Manufacturing Sector Utilize Extended Reality?
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Businesses in industries and manufacturing are always looking for ways to improve their
processes. Efficient, effective, productive, and economical. With technology evolving
rapidly, many companies have begun to understand that using immersive technology
within their businesses can help solve various problems, such as the slow or costly
development of products, complex training requirements, etc. In the past extended
reality, technology was considered a mere tool for enhancing the entertainment sector.
In reality, XR is quickly gaining popularity in various sectors, including the
manufacturing industry.
Anyone who works in the manufacturing sector understands how competitive the market
is. Companies are pressured to develop new products faster, more safely, and cost-
effectively using minimal resources and waste.

2. Efficiency and quality are at the core of every successful manufacturing venture. They
are the most important factor in meeting the needs of consumers. However, the
continuing shortage of skilled workers, increasing labor shortages, and supply chain
challenges have threatened the standards. Fortunately, new tools are helping
companies stay in the face of rapid shifts.
With extended-reality manufacturing, training businesses can now offer new employees
a simulation environment in which they can be in the "hands-on" environment and gain
an actual, hands-on experience on the job -however, sometimes entirely from a
distance.
Growing Role of Extended Reality in Manufacturing
The widespread adoption of cutting-edge manufacturing technologies is likely
connected to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 State of Manufacturing
Report shows that 95% of manufacturers thought the virus would have a lasting impact
on their business. This, consequently, gave a significant increase for industry 4.0.
Alongside data analytics and IoT advancement, AI and ML robotics extended reality
(XR) is among the most promising manufacturing technological innovation areas. Nine
out of ten firms have increased their investment in digital transformation by 2020,
deciding to use Extended Reality (XR) as one of their most valuable solutions.
What is 'XR,' and How Does It Work?
The term "extended Reality" (XR) refers to three technologies with distinct levels of
experience and different mixes of virtual and physical interactions. At its highest level,
XR comprises the virtual world Augmented reality (AR/VR Services) as well as mixed
reality (MR).
Augmented Reality (AR) enhances natural working environments by overlaying virtual
or digital elements. To use joint, user-friendly AR, users generally use a device like

3. tablets, smartphones, and AR glasses. (The game phenomenon Pokémon GO is an
excellent illustration of the widespread application of AR technology.)
Virtual Reality (VR) allows users to completely immerse themselves in an immersive
digital environment that is entirely digital. A headset (an "HMD" (also known as the
head-mounted screen) is used to provide an overall view of a simulation of a space
which, in simple terms, fools our brain into believing that we are physically in a
reconstructed, digital world.
When you are in Mixed Reality (MR), digital physical and digital elements coexist and
interact in real time. MR is, in essence, a combination of virtual and augmented
technology for virtual reality. The technology requires an MR headset, like the HoloLens
from Microsoft; MR allows users to alter simulated forms, rooms, models, or spaces,
which allows users to view things from various perspectives or angles or to react to
virtual objects in the real world.
Since XR stimulates all of our senses, it allows us to explore simulated environments in
complete detail, similar to what we see in the real world, but with one notable exception:
in XR, we can engage in risky activities without risking ourselves or anyone else.
Various Use Cases of Extended Reality in the Manufacturing Industry
While it was once thought to be a solution intended explicitly for entertainment, the
expanded technology is now showing its worth across many areas, such as the
manufacturing industry. Companies such as Varjo and Magic Leap are already
beginning to collaborate with manufacturing companies with solutions specifically
designed to help professionals using complex technology and tools.
With XR, manufacturing companies can create better processes to support their
employees and reduce risks on the floor of their factories. These same technologies can
speed up time-to-market, enhance the process of developing products and open the
doors to breakthrough collaboration.

4. Here are a few examples of how to use XR in industrial and manufacturing companies.
Powerful Training and Guidance
Many manufacturing firms have many employees who work on various machines daily.
Understanding how to operate these tools safely and efficiently is vital. Firms typically
require comprehensive training to help their employees.
However, training employees in the industrial or manufacturing sector can be lengthy
and costly. Training an employee on how to operate a brand machine in person will
often interrupt the company's operations and can be extremely expensive. But with XR,
it is possible to take advantage of opportunities to teach team members without
interruptions.
The company can offer engaging training experiences that help to keep team members
protected on the floor manufacturing. It is even possible for new employees to put on
MR and AR glasses when they are first introduced to a company and immediately verify
the instructions by bringing them into their view area using a voice command, reducing
the chance of making mistakes.
Faster Maintenance and Repairs
A single problem in the manufacturing environment could throw a whole production line
into chaos. Getting expert assistance as soon as possible is crucial if problems arise to
get a company back in order. The good news is that extended reality can assist in this.
In the industrial sector, augmented reality and mixed reality devices allow employees to
transmit high-quality images of their machines back to an expert in remote locations to
gain immediate feedback and insights.
They can even use applications linked to a pair of smart glasses. These glasses can be
used to identify the components of equipment that engineers must be working on or
provide the team member with the most important diagrams. Access to immediate

5. support from experts can speed up repairs. It can even eliminate the need for engineers
or technicians to visit a location in person.
Technology in the industrial and manufacturing space continues to grow. It is possible to
imagine a future in which teams can use IoT devices, applications, and 5G technology
to communicate with machines in real time and even make changes at an inaccessible
distance.
Rapid Product Development
Virtual reality in the manufacturing industry provides a unified and collaborative
environment where teams can discuss ideas for new products and interact with digital
machinery models. It also simplifies experimentation with new materials and concepts
without creating models from scratch. Another benefit it could offer companies is
reduced time wasted in getting from one stage of production in the process to the
following.
Safety Training
The safety of employees working with intricate machines is always a significant problem
in manufacturing. Extended reality is an excellent way to train and develop new
employees while ensuring their safety before stepping on the production floor. This can
also bring the following benefits: can include:
 Reduced Plant Downtime
 Through XR technology to facilitate training, companies can conduct training
courses without impacting the production hours at the plant. This means that the
plant is running and avoiding expensive downtime.
Remote Customer Support

6. Customer support that involves visits from technicians and the repair of equipment can
be time-consuming, consequently affecting your customer's experience. Integration
of extended reality in business can improve customer service by allowing field
service technicians to offer remote assistance. Through XR equipment, such as Smart
glasses, technicians can view live data and solve issues from remote areas.
Workplace Safety
Their working environment makes manufacturing workers more susceptible to accidents
and injuries. Employers should take safety in the workplace seriously and implement the
appropriate measures to reduce the chance of injuries and accidents. By using XR
technology, businesses can overlay information about their work to increase the safety
of employees in the workplace. In addition, businesses can publish immediate safety
alerts using XR applications and help train employees on how to respond to potentially
dangerous situations.
Process Improvements and Efficiency
XR will give industrial and manufacturing employees who work in highly complex
environments access to the information and guidance they require at any moment. The
team member can accomplish more quickly, increasing overall efficiency.
For instance, companies such as Atheer employ AR headsets to give team members
direction when they're in the construction area and to make sure they can communicate
with specialists for additional assistance. This allows employees to receive instant
feedback without waiting for an employee to see a supervisor in person.
In addition, engineers and technicians can access information and instructions in real-
time via the AR or MR interface or possess the diagrams they require to comprehend a
device displayed on top of a device. Extended reality applications allow for streamlined
workplace procedures and ensure employees have the information they require to
perform their jobs efficiently and safely.

7. What are the Benefits of Extended Reality for the Manufacturing Sector?
The immersive environment and capabilities of XR provide significant benefits when
used in conjunction with traditional and computer-based manufacturing education.
Using all four widely recognized learning methods -- visual, writing, auditory, and
motion. Extended reality allows learners to make stronger emotional and mental
connections to their subject matter, giving students more relevant instruction. The result
is a real-world work experience in a safe, realistic setting.
Distraction-Free Learning
Since participants are completely engaged by their environments and the information
they're receiving, Extended reality in manufacturing training offers a space that is
free of distractions. The less distracted the trainees are, the better they can focus on the
content they're being given.
More Visually and Mentally Engaging Training
Since over 90% of information processed in our minds is visually dependent, XR's vivid
three-dimensional interactive design allows learning to be more visually based than
conventional training. It results in students who are abler to retain the information they
see...and feel, with studies showing an improvement of 80% in retention.
Efficient Training That Keeps Companies Working
In the past, trainers would typically need to shut down production or move important
equipment of the line for training. XR makes it unnecessary to incur this extra expense
when delivering the curriculum. Alongside providing an opportunity for more interactive
learning, XR's training ensures that critical manufacturing equipment is running and
contributes to overall efficiency as training sessions are delivered.

8. The streamlining of logistics
The emergence of extended reality technologies such as AR VR, MR landscape, and
MR landscape can create a fully-connected system that can locate essentials such as
goods, products, and equipment to employees, speeding up their work and reducing
waste. Consider DHL since they have installed mobile devices and smart glasses that
help employees find their tools more quickly while reducing shipping and packing
mistakes.
Better Data Analysis
Data is essential to ensure success in the digital age. The past was when analysts
relied on questionnaires, surveys, and so on. to gather feedback from customers. With
specific metrics like eye-tacking, biofeedback and heart rate monitoring, and more., XR
makes it possible to track customer behavior right through their experiences.
In the world of marketing, collecting data could be an essential factor. The XR tool helps
you determine the customer's connection to an item, the factors that affect the purchase
of that product, and what kind of content attracts the customers most in an advertising
campaign.
Furthermore, the Key indicator of performance (KPI) in the XR-based training program
helps companies assess training sessions' effectiveness and evaluate trainees' ability to
work in high-risk or stressful situations.
Operations Optimization
Extended reality can allow companies to save time and costs while streamlining their
most essential processes. For instance, Boeing uses AR lenses which reduce the
cognitive burden of workers when they build an aircraft. Every day, Boeing contains 130
miles of wires. Until the last few years, engineers had to verify their wires by shifting
their focus to paper documents stuffed with schemes and diagrams. The

9. implementation of AR made it possible for Boeing to change from cross-checking
methods to the line-of-sight method, reduced the possibility of errors and reduced the
time required to build wires by 25%.
Quicker Time to Market
Virtual reality could significantly decrease the time it takes between the concept of the
product and its commercialization by replacing the lengthy physical prototyping with
interactive models. Digital twins are much easier to change over physical prototypes.
They are also easier to share, resulting in quicker and more effective decision-making
and quicker times to market.
For example, Watermark Products, an agency that designs and manufactures onboard
products for airlines, was seeking an answer to the issue of the lengthy cost and time
associated with producing prototypes to test the new designs. Today, the company uses
Manufacturing AR to effectively bridge the gap between what's displayed on the screen
and the actual result. With Augment's Solidworks plugin, they can quickly visualize
mock-ups and verify the size of their products.
Extended Reality: The Future of Manufacturing
We're rapidly discovering how extended reality technologies don't only offer an option in
the entertainment sector or the world of collaboration. With virtual and augmented
reality, businesses can design and develop items faster without putting employees at
risk. Training employees more efficiently and providing them the direction they require
to be successful in even the most complex tasks.
XR enhances efficiency and logistics in the manufacturing industry as well as assists
employees work better with each other. By hiring AR/VR consulting services, it could
be possible for a businesses to observe the same problems as an engineer and give
instructions in visual form on what to do about an error.

10. The benefits and use cases mentioned above are only the beginning of what is possible
with production and for XR. The benefits are virtually unlimited.
The Key Takeaway
This cutting-edge technology will retain the benefits of extended reality in business and
other industries. It will amaze the world with its unique applications. XR is among the
most valuable possibilities for the manufacturing industry and opens the door to less risk
and cost in addition to improved employee safety and collaboration, effective data
management, and innovative marketing options. Make use of the enormous possibilities
of extended realities to gain an edge over competitors and be in line with companies
focusing on digital transformation over traditional manufacturing methods.
Original Source: https://www.consagous.co/blog/how-could-the-manufacturing-sector-
utilize-extended-reality