A recent survey of manufacturers shows that 56% of respondents said they have implemented some form of AR/VR technology in their organization in the past 12 months. Another 35% said they are considering doing so. More than a quarter, 27%, said they have fully implemented an AR/VR solution and are looking to scale further.

CAD visualization tools can help technicians remotely identify problems on the manufacturing line. AR/VR tools can also show staff how to solve manufacturing problems. (Image source: Grid Raster)

AR/VR platform company Grid Raster has released the results of the survey. The questions explore trends in how companies are using AR/VR. Approximately 215 responses were collected during the week of March 30 from C-level and technology executives from mid-tier and enterprise manufacturers.

Grid Raster co-founder Dijam Panigrahi noted that the recent COVID-19 pandemic could increase this number as manufacturers look to implement more virtual design into their workflows to minimize human interaction on the shop floor.

Impact of AR/VR on productivity

Nearly a third of all companies surveyed (29%) said they are achieving more than a 25% increase in productivity efficiency. Additionally, more than half (61%) said they are achieving cost savings of up to 20% as a result of leveraging AR/VR technologies.

As for where manufacturers are taking productivity savings, Panigrahi noted that training on the production line and the ability to perform repair and maintenance tasks remotely account for much of the savings. “Let’s say you’re working on a production line and there’s a problem. The field technician can see through the glasses and instruct the plant technician on how to fix the problem much faster than a physical visit,” said Panigrahi. design news.

A breakdown of where companies are taking advantage of AR/VR:

60% – Virtual supplemental labor on production lines

53% – Virtual customer service visits

53% – Virtual Design and Engineering

26% – Employee Training Programs

Scalability remains a major challenge

Of those companies that have already implemented an AR/VR solution, 76% said they need more help to scale further and handle more projects. Another 71% said that questions related to scalability are the main reason they have not yet released an AR/VR solution.

For many manufacturers, scalability means mixed AR and VR platforms. “Manufacturers are overcoming this huge challenge by partnering with cloud-based, or remote server-based, mixed platform providers powered by distributed cloud architecture and 3D vision-based AI,” said Panigrahi. “These mixed cloud platforms deliver the performance and scalability desired to drive industry innovation at speed and scale.”

Rob Spiegel has covered automation and control for 19 years, 17 of them for design news. Other topics she has covered include supply chain technology, alternative energy, and cyber security. For 10 years, he was the owner and editor of the gastronomic magazine Chile Chile.