Instant Remote Support

How Augmented Reality (AR) glasses are providing instant support for line management in the surface treatment

Augmented Reality (AR) glasses might sound futuristic, but they are already being used every day across a growing range of industries. When an engineer needs assistance, for example, they simply put on a pair of glasses and broadcast everything they see to an expert anywhere in the world in real time. The expert sees the exact same picture as the wearer, and can identify problems and offer recommendations immediately. It’s like having an expert on site, 24-hours a day – and makes customer service faster and more reliable.

On top of this, AR glasses make it possible to display documents, photos or instructions direct in the field of vision of the person wearing the glasses. This strengthens communication and helps to avoid misunderstandings. The wearer can even take photos or record videos, which the observer can then edit and send back. It’s easy to use and reliable in low-bandwidth environments, and all content can be encrypted to ensure data security.

This technology has already been used for line management in the surface treatment and has delivered outstanding results! The AR glasses enabled service experts to look “over-the-shoulder” of the line operator. Every bath was inspected visually and the measurements could be seen in real time, while the treated parts were checked to see if the surface treatment had been applied evenly.

Overall, the line management team stated that the glasses had boosted the speed and reliability of maintenance processes, quality checks and troubleshooting. AR glasses also open up exciting opportunities to improve training activities, including when new colleagues join the company.

Of course, the glasses cannot truly replace the impact of having an expert on site to solve complex problems. However, they do make it possible to share an accurate view of the problem without delay, and to provide suggestions for how to solve the problem very quickly. This hands-free remote service can reduce production stoppages, and avoids the need for long emails or site visits. In some cases, site visits can be completely avoided, which reduces C02 emissions.