April 18, 2023

Getting Started with Industrial Augmented Reality Solutions

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Practical Guidance for Industrial Augmented Reality (AR) Project Planning, Execution, and Success

By adopting industrial augmented reality (AR), industrial enterprises can upgrade worker training and significantly improve operational efficiency. By replacing traditional learning materials with more immersive experiences, global organizations can optimize their operations in any geography they inhabit.

For a successful implementation of an Augmented Reality (AR) solution, thorough planning is essential to identify the right technology and how it can be seamlessly integrated into existing processes, workflows & systems. AR industrial applications provide faster time-to-value with minimal programming expertise compared to other industrial technologies – however, for maximum returns on investment, these must be carried out comprehensively from the ideation stage through functional pilots all the way up until deployments are complete.

This blog will help project owners ensure success in their launch of industrial augmented reality by detailing each step along this journey including how:

  • Augmented Reality (AR) is helping industrial enterprises upskill their workforce with immersive learning experiences.

  • Implementing an industrial AR application requires careful planning and consideration of the technology’s integration into existing systems, processes, and workflows.

  • Unlike other types of operational technology, AR has fast implementation time with minimal programming expertise depending on the solution chosen.

  • Companies are already taking advantage of AR for digital transformation and should consider it for instances where there is high turnover, scarcity of expert workers, error-prone processes, or competitive advantage.

industrial augmented reality - technavio

Technavio estimates that augmented reality market growth is expected to increase by $157 billion from 2022 to 2027.1

Identify the Industrial Augmented Reality Business Case

Businesses are already reaping the rewards of augmented reality implementation in their workflow with considerable returns on investment across many facets, from training to manufacturing and sales. As more workers retire and outdated methods cause obstacles to workforce efficiency, leveraging cutting-edge tools such as remote guidance, and virtual demonstrations featuring full product scale visualization along with procedural instructions can help surmount these challenges.

By implementing AR industrial applications correctly, it is possible to realize great potential both now and into the future and easily prove ROI—such as reduced training time, better first-time fix rates, or increased customer satisfaction. Select one high-impact use case and set a tangible goal, like reducing year-over-year unplanned downtime by 25%. Establishing goals will help level-set expectations while positioning AR as a transformative solution that addresses your specific business challenge. Establishing goals will help you level-set expectations while positioning industrial augmented reality as a transformative solution that addresses your specific business challenge.

industrial augmented reality

Communicate and Collaborate to Maximize the Success of Industrial Augmented Reality

Effective AR industrial applications require collaboration and multi-faceted expertise – from subject matter experts familiar with the content to an executive sponsor who can provide unwavering support throughout the project. A successful implementation necessitates a comprehensive team effort, not only for quality control measures but also process development and evaluation of results. Working collaboratively with key stakeholders helps identify any potential obstacles that may arise while enabling your project objectives to come alive!

As project owners, it is important to ensure that contributors understand their role and associated tasks, adhere to established deadlines, and provide feedback when appropriate. Insight from internal team members as well as external partners/consultants can be leveraged to optimize the AR process or workflow being developed. In addition, stakeholders should receive a clear demonstration of how implementing industrial augmented reality will create value for other departments; investment costs versus returns must also be communicated transparently – so proper funding may then help drive the first phase of implementation forward successfully!

“To maximize the power of Augmented Reality, organizations need to bring actual practitioners in at every stage of the implementation process.” – Tom Paquin, Research Analyst, Aberdeen Market Intelligence Company

ar industrial applications

Work with a Strong Industrial Augmented Reality Thought Leader

Industrial Augmented Reality is becoming increasingly important for enterprises looking to improve their operations. Experienced providers like TriStar have the expertise and know-how necessary to identify where and how augmented reality can be leveraged most effectively, from reducing costs to improving training programs or increasing productivity levels. For streamlined out-of-the-box solutions that offer quick returns on your investment, seek suppliers with established partnerships – such as PTC & Microsoft’s collaboration which brings together Vuforia software tailored for HoloLens 2 with complete Azure IoT cloud support into one comprehensive enterprise AR industrial applications package.

ar industrial applications

“Vuforia Studio allowed us to move faster—we could build and deliver capabilities more quickly. We were also able to scale faster than we anticipated, allowing us to more efficiently deliver content to the Air Force.” – Joe Gelardi, CEO, Vectrona

Industrial augmented reality solutions like Vuforia Studio can empower organizations to quickly and efficiently create AR experiences out of existing Creo CAD, 2D & 3D models, and engineering data. Organizations should consider the product information required for such an experience when planning their pilot program; it is also wise to anticipate potential updates down the line as designs will likely evolve over time.

Final Thoughts: Getting Started with Industrial Augmented Reality Now

If you’re interested in getting started with augmented reality for the enterprise, contact us to learn how you can efficiently author immersive AR content leveraging 3D and IoT data with Vuforia Studio, quickly and easily create AR work and training instructions with Vuforia Expert Capture and Vuforia Instruct, or see how Vuforia Chalk can help scale up your remote expertise today!

TriStar PLM Solutions welcomes questions. Feel free to CONTACT US if you can’t find what you’re looking for, or call us at 800-800-1714