The Future of Maintenance: How Augmented Reality is Revolutionizing the Industry
The maintenance business is in need of repair, with fixed assets costing as much as 60% of operational expenditure, based on McKinsey. In response, firms are turning to an exciting technology: augmented reality (AR). Unlike virtual reality, AR superimposes virtual images on the real-world environment, providing technicians with animations and data referencing real objects of their field of view.
What is Augmented Reality?
AR is a technology that uses a tool, similar to a headset or smartphone, to overlay digital information onto the actual world. This allows technicians to see virtual guides and imagery directly in front of them, while keeping their hands free to work. The marketplace for AR is predicted to succeed in over $100 billion by 2024, with industrial and public infrastructure maintenance being particular growth areas.
Benefits of AR in Maintenance
AR offers several advantages for maintenance operations, including:
Cheaper, Faster Training
AR could be used as a training tool, enabling operators to learn maintenance techniques quickly and safely. Siemens has used AR to switch paper and tablet-based technical manuals with 3D visualizations, reducing training time on some components from a day to 45 minutes.
Shorter Maintenance Times
AR can streamline basic maintenance by providing technicians with virtual checklists and voice interaction to register inspection results. This makes inspection and diagnosis faster, and reduces the danger of errors. AR software may also walk technicians through the right sequence of maintenance steps, ensuring that they interact with equipment safely.
Coping with COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has modified working conditions, with restricted access to business locations. AR can assist by enabling customers to conduct routine maintenance procedures remotely, with guidance from technicians. This can solve problems 30% faster and with half the errors.
Streamlining Back-end Productivity
AR may also integrate with other systems, similar to incident processing, to extend efficiency. By exchanging repair and completion orders directly between the device and back-end systems, firms can save 50 minutes per day in customer support.
Bridging the Skills Gap
AR-powered maintenance can assist bridge the talents gap by enabling senior technicians to guide junior colleagues through complex maintenance procedures remotely. This reduces the common maintenance call time and enables firms to make higher use of their senior technicians.
Improving Fix Rates
AR guidance may also lead to higher first-time, same-day fix rates, reducing the necessity to swap out equipment with "loaners" to satisfy service level agreements. This can eliminate the necessity for 2 out of 5 loaner machines, based on the Augmented Reality for Enterprise Alliance (AREA).
The Future of AR in Maintenance
AR is a mature technology that’s ripe for mass deployment. Advances in connectivity and native computing power will proceed to push AR maintenance forward. The emergence of 5G will reduce latency and enrich AR-based communications, while reducing reliance on local networks at client sites. IoT sensors could enable technicians to see an industrial asset’s operating metrics in real-time, and more powerful chips tailored for AI could usher in AR headsets with higher computer vision capabilities.
Conclusion
Augmented reality is revolutionizing the upkeep industry by providing technicians with the tools they should work more efficiently and effectively. With its ability to cut back training time, streamline maintenance, and improve fix rates, AR is a vital technology for any company seeking to improve its maintenance operations. As the technology continues to evolve, we will expect to see much more modern solutions that enhance the capabilities of technicians and improve the general efficiency of maintenance operations.
