Transforming Aftercare: Harnessing the Power of Mixed Reality
The High Value / Low Volume (HVLV) production model, is a crucial part of the automotive industry. Firms involved in this aspect of the industry are a hub for engineering design and excellence, but how can they export their knowledge in the form of experience to customers, dealerships, and service centers when they need to? For HVLV manufacturers to maintain aftercare support at a rate that satisfies consumer demand globally these companies have been forced to be innovative in not only how they create and distribute their products but also how they share their internal wealth of knowledge for aftersale support. These issues have been further compounded by the introduction of complex HVLV electric vehicles (EVs) that require specialized maintenance that exceeds most of the current capabilities of dealerships and service departments. While these marvels on wheels are being brought to life it has brought forth questions that haven’t had to be answered: How are these vehicles supported initially when the knowledge of the intricacies of the vehicles are known by only a few? How can training be supported in a cost-effective and timely manner to service teams? Most importantly how can knowledge be retained to ensure retraining isn’t required?
These challenges come at a time where digital transformation is at the forefront of operational change within organizations. This has created an opportunity for these manufacturers to improve processes, digitize key information for easier knowledge transfer, and provide a stage that enables a truly connected worker platform. While these efforts are poised to deliver an improved worker experience and increase overall efficiency making digital innovations useable in everyday operational activities is much different than testing modern solutions in an innovation lab. How do you effectively view this information and be able to continue working? How do you remain connected when in bandwidth-restricted situations? How do you use the information that has been digitized more effectively than traditional methods such as paper manuals, 2D diagrams, or longstanding employees’ personal knowledge to make the time and money investment worthwhile?
Photo by Mike Bird: https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-mercedes-benz-interior-design-193999/
From Innovation to Operational: Digital Content for Elevated Efficiency
When considering the available options in today's market for handling the digitization of an organization's operational relevant content and ensuring usability during tasks, two main categories of devices emerge: handhelds and headsets. Among these, handhelds, such as tablets and smartphones, are the most prevalent solution. They offer the lowest entry cost, encounter minimal resistance from workers, and require the shortest training time due to the level of familiarity with those devices as they have been present in our everyday life for quite some time now.
However, this option does have limitations, primarily related to its form factor. To operate these devices, at least one hand is required, which inevitably distracts and temporarily removes the worker from the task. Additionally, the form factor itself poses challenges. Most handheld devices available in the market are designed for consumers rather than industrial use. Consequently, concerns arise when operating them under suboptimal conditions, as the hardware may struggle to maintain a stable connection or withstand the rigors of bustling industrial environments.
Manufacturers including HVLV organizations continue to show interest in something more innovative: headsets, with the most promising hands-free solution being mixed reality (MR) enabled devices. This technology offers several advantages. Firstly, it enables "see what I see" communication with remote experts, allowing them to provide real-time guidance and support. Additionally, MR headsets allow users to consume and manipulate digital information while maintaining full situational awareness. The digital content accessible through MR headsets can take various forms. It includes but is not limited to 2D and 3D PDFs, which provide detailed information and visualizations, as well as 3D holographic models that offer comprehensive breakdowns of systems. Mixed reality devices also take full advantage of spatial computing which allows for users to interact and place holograms beside the physical object as the task is worked on ensuring there are no questions left unanswered throughout the process.
In essence, the remarkable capabilities of mixed reality have captured the attention of HVLV manufacturers, offering a gateway to truly operationalize their digital transformation efforts and address imminent challenges. Unlike virtual reality (VR) which provides a fully synthetic environment, mixed reality provides an immersive yet authentic environment where workers can perform tasks with heightened accuracy, while the organization is able to reduce their carbon footprint by minimizing expert travel while maintaining the same level of expertise through communication channels. As this technology becomes fully integrated, these manufacturers can extend their support reach, empower more efficient workers, and ensure safe operations within their workspaces. It's no wonder that the interest in mixed reality continues to soar.
Embracing the Potential: Empowering HVLV Producers with Mixed Reality
The enablement of operational support globally, backed by mixed reality, holds immense promise for HVLV manufacturers. Whether dealing with internal combustion or electric vehicles, these manufacturers, who outfit their staff with mixed reality headsets are poised to tackle aftercare and support challenges with newfound effectiveness. Mixed reality has provided a platform to enable workers to easily connect with manufacturers and engineers, access real-time files, and ensure that knowledge is always available and never lost. By equipping service providers with this transformative technology and developing/utilizing pre-existing digital and holographic assets, even empty spaces can be transformed into thriving workshops, providing workers with the precise information they need. Through these advancements, manufacturers not only solve long-standing questions about aftercare but also enhance customer experiences by minimizing vehicle downtime during servicing.
As the adoption of mixed reality headsets continues to surge across industrial sectors, HVLV manufacturers embracing this technology are positioning themselves to conquer the complexities of aftercare and support for their sophisticated vehicles. The future is bright, as mixed reality becomes an integral part of their operational toolkit, revolutionizing the way they deliver support, enable efficient workers, and ensure seamless operations. With mixed reality as their workforce's ever-ready companion, these manufacturers are set to thrive in the ever-evolving landscape of automotive excellence.
If you find yourself pondering how to address your organization's digital transformation requirements and are encountering challenges in making it both worthwhile and operational, rest assured that we are here to assist you. You can easily reach out to speak with someone directly by clicking this link or book a remote mixed reality demo of RemoteSpark here. Regardless of where you are in your transformation journey, we are dedicated to supporting you every step of the way.