Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • 3D CAD
    • Electronics • electrical
    • Fastening & Joining
    • Factory automation
    • Linear Motion
    • Motion Control
    • Test & Measurement
    • Sensors
    • Fluid power
  • Learn
    • Ebooks / Tech Tips
    • Engineering Week
    • Future of Design Engineering
    • MC² Motion Control Classrooms
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • LEAP AWARDS
  • Leadership
    • 2022 Voting
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guide Library
  • Resources
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Women in Engineering
  • Supplier Listings

Industrial Maintenance Is Becoming Knowledge Work

By Phys.org | February 9, 2017

Share

Virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mobile social media will soon be part of everyday work for service technicians. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland coordinated a sub-project forming part of the DIMECC S-STEP (Smart technologies for lifecycle performance) program. In the sub-project researchers and industry jointly developed new digital solutions and tools for industrial maintenance. The aim is to improve both productivity and work satisfaction.

Much R&D has been done on the digitalisation of industry from the ICT perspective, but very little from the point of view of work efficiency and job satisfaction.

“The digitalisation of industry is changing maintenance tasks and tools – an increasing number of employees now do knowledge work. The best productivity and work satisfaction can be achieved by developing work practices – and tools based on new technology – holistically, together with employees,” comments Project Manager Eija Kaasinen from VTT.

The key areas selected for development were: better preparation for maintenance visits, support for fault identification, personal and context-aware “hands-on” guidance, and effortless reporting already during the maintenance visit. VTT, the other research partners and the participating companies have jointly developed several pilot applications.

Mobile service technician and digital tools

Before heading to the maintenance site, the service technician can check the service environment virtually with VR glasses.

Using augmented reality (AR) applications, a remote expert can display hands-on instructions to the technician. Colleagues can share tips on the maintenance site and good practices with social media and AR.

AR and VR tools are maturing to the point where their price and functionality allow their use widely in industry. AR and VR applications will rapidly proliferate in a number of industrial maintenance tasks over the next few years.

The project’s results can be applied in a range of industrial tasks in addition to maintenance. The solutions have been developed for the needs of international companies with extensive and global maintenance operations. That is why the programme is having a huge impact on those companies, who are now adopting the best solutions.

“Augmented reality in the industrial context is not a fad. Very likely, it will be a common instrument for service technicians in the coming years. However, making the most out of it requires strong collaboration with technology vendors, but more importantly, an understanding of how the internal processes need to support the AR solution. S-STEP program has accelerated our entry to augmented reality.” Riitta Partanen-Jokela, Director, Maintenance Development, KONE”Today’s machines are a complex combination of different kinds of technologies, and the need for information among service technicians is increasing every day. For the same reason, reporting from the field is more and more time-consuming. In this project, we developed a new way to collect and share context-sensitive information using a single device. S-STEP program has been a real success story, and we will continue the development in the future.” Jouni Törnqvist, R&D Manager, Bronto Skylift.

“Already from the early S-STEP results we have circulated internally in our company it has become clear that contextual guidance, remote support and 360 degree VR visualisations have a high potential of impacting the way we educate, prepare and perform maintenance tasks. Excitement has been high, and concrete cases for piloting these technologies are being actively considered.” Mikael Leppä, Lead User Experience Designer Wärtsilä.

“The S-STEP results show that there is a need for an advanced service tool. A hands-free information feed and context-sensitive guidance or content share are areas of great potential in Konecranes service, and should be studied more. By concentrating on the user experience, we are able to deliver such tools that really revolutionize the technician’s work.” Johannes Tarkiainen, Industrial Design Manager, Konecranes.

The project began in June 2014 and ended in late 2016, as one of the four projects under DIMECC’s S-STEP (Smart technologies for lifecycle performance) programme. The following organisations participated in the programme: DIMECC Ltd, 3D Studio Blomberg Ltd, Bronto Skylift Oy Ab, KONE Corporation, Konecranes Plc, Mevea Ltd, Wärtsilä Corporation, Aalto University, Lapland University of Applied Sciences, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Tampere University of Technology, the Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction (TAUCHI) at the University of Tampere and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd. Tekes funded the project alongside the participants.

The project won the DIMECC Prize for the best result of 2016. A number of continuation projects are under way and new companies have joined to the work.


Filed Under: Industrial automation, Virtual reality

 

Related Articles Read More >

Festo and the power of worker upskilling at the Oracle Industry Lab
Five ways to drive ROI from personnel and cobot investments
Safety Air Guns use engineered air nozzles for high performance
EXAIR’s new no drip siphon fed spray nozzle coats, cools and cleans

DESIGN GUIDE LIBRARY

“motion

Enews Sign Up

Motion Control Classroom

Design World Digital Edition

cover

Browse the most current issue of Design World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading design engineering magazine today.

EDABoard the Forum for Electronics

Top global problem solving EE forum covering Microcontrollers, DSP, Networking, Analog and Digital Design, RF, Power Electronics, PCB Routing and much more

EDABoard: Forum for electronics

Sponsored Content

  • Global supply needs drive increased manufacturing footprint development
  • How to Increase Rotational Capacity for a Retaining Ring
  • Cordis high resolution electronic proportional pressure controls
  • WAGO’s custom designed interface wiring system making industrial applications easier
  • 10 Reasons to Specify Valve Manifolds
  • Case study: How a 3D-printed tool saved thousands of hours and dollars

Design World Podcasts

May 17, 2022
Another view on additive and the aerospace industry
See More >
Engineering Exchange

The Engineering Exchange is a global educational networking community for engineers.

Connect, share, and learn today »

Design World
  • Advertising
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Manage your Design World Subscription
  • Subscribe
  • Design World Digital Network
  • Engineering White Papers
  • LEAP AWARDS

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • 3D CAD
    • Electronics • electrical
    • Fastening & Joining
    • Factory automation
    • Linear Motion
    • Motion Control
    • Test & Measurement
    • Sensors
    • Fluid power
  • Learn
    • Ebooks / Tech Tips
    • Engineering Week
    • Future of Design Engineering
    • MC² Motion Control Classrooms
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • LEAP AWARDS
  • Leadership
    • 2022 Voting
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guide Library
  • Resources
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Women in Engineering
  • Supplier Listings