HoloLens in Manufacturing: Use Cases of Speeding Up Manufacturing Through AR

Increased adoption of HoloLens has paved the way for augmented reality (AR) in manufacturing. HoloLens is an AR-enabled wearable developed by Microsoft. HoloLens has already become a staple within the industry through increased efficiency and reduced costs.

• The AR market is estimated to reach $4.7 Billion by 2025.
• By 2025, HoloLens is forecasted to have a value of $4.9 Billion.
• HoloLens currently enjoys a 73.8% CAGR.

Manufacturing Sector Overview

The manufacturing sector had come to a standstill at the onset of the pandemic.

• The PMI slipped down to 57.5.
• Contribution to GDP shrunk to 13.8%.

It was at this low that the sector decided to adopt some changes such as digitization, flexible supply chains, and tripling the investment in technology. Another factor of consideration was the shrinking workforce, and the reluctance of new blood to join the force.

All this was addressed through the adoption of industrial AR/VR and other cutting-edge tech.

Benefits of Augmented Reality in Manufacturing

Augmented reality in manufacturing can be used to enhance productivity, safety, and accuracy. AR VR can offer several benefits in manufacturing, including:

1. Better collaboration

By integrating manufacturing with the designing process and AR, HoloLens helps teams to work in sync with each other.

2. Better training

Through augmented reality-powered training sessions, workers can be trained efficiently. Manufacturers have stated that HoloLens training takes just one-fourth of traditional training time for similar tasks.

3. Better assembly

Complex assemblies and tough maintenance tasks can be simplified by letting various teams work on them remotely.

4. Better visualization

HoloLens enables better data visualization and executive oversight. With a 100,000 foot view and the capacity to zoom in, live production capacity data and future manufacturing facilities can be explored.

Use Cases of Hololens in the Manufacturing Industry

• ThyssenKrupp uses the tech for designing and construction of lifts. The area is measured through an AI integration to HoloLens and the software designs a suitable lift or elevator. This reduces the time taken by one-fourth.

• The Starliner transport module by Boeing is designed using HoloLens.

• Apart from designing, HoloLens also helps in training. Boeing uses a voice-over-enabled visual representation of various aircraft parts to train its members. Boeing claims it has reduced the time by 75%.

• Besides training, the assembly can also be lubricated through HoloLens use. GE uses HoloLens to illustrate further steps to the personnel, thus increasing efficiency by 34%.

• At Toyota Japan, Koichi Kayano’s way of thinking about work changed the day he first put on a Microsoft HoloLens headset. “I was astounded because it lets us do the things we had never done before,” said the project manager at Toyota Motor Corp. in Japan.

He and his team now use the precise mixed reality technology (MR) capabilities of HoloLens to streamline tasks, improve quality, and solve problems – from inspecting the thickness of paint on vehicles to ensuring employee safety to installing factory equipment.

The Future of Manufacturing with HoloLens

A safe and efficient manufacturing process in the future across all industries. Manufacturers are reassessing risks after the pandemic and switching to more streamlined and efficient augmented reality tech is the first step.

• Digital transformation is seen by 48% of manufacturers.
• The AR headset market including HoloLens is estimated to reach $1.64 Billion by 2025.
• The CAGR is estimated at 73.8% by 2025.

Using the HoloLens and digital twins in manufacturing allows manufacturers to have each step overlaid on the task at hand, enabling assembly workers to know exactly which stage of the process to do, and how to do it.

In a world of constantly shortened deadlines combined with the need to deliver top-notch quality products or suffer consequences by clients and customers on a short fuse, it is the need of the hour to reduce the margin of error.

The HoloLens not only lets manufacturers do that, but it also does it in an engaging interactive way.