Abstract:

The paper deals with the design and evaluation of an innovative approach to on-site training of employees from the group of reconstruction, setup and maintenance of the production line using mixed reality (MR) technology. The alignment of the production line to a different type of product takes place in a time-limited window, while the rest of the time the line is used for the mass production of various parts for car brake systems. These conditions do not allow the preparation of employees for rebuilding, setting, or maintenance interventions physically on the line's equipment. Common multimedia elements are used for their training, including, for example, training videos. In our work, we created the specific guide for modifying line equipment for mixed reality headset Microsoft Hololens 2. The testing of the application was attended by trained employees with experience in the field. Evaluation of the suitability and usability of MR technology by these specialists was carried out in the form of a questionnaire with nine questions. Based on the answers to the questionnaire, a Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis of the application of mixed reality in this industrial field with an emphasis on occupational health and safety (OHSAS), required by the management system according to the ISO 45000 series standards, was carried out. Intervention was more positive, but there are significant threats in the form of technical obstacles (the need to take care of the functionality of the headset, the risk of losing connection in specific conditions, legal restrictions on wearing the headset - not in direct line of sight, the need for national certification of the device application, etc.), as well as possible discomfort when using this display method for some users. For consideration is preliminary training using virtual reality technology, or often simpler, but sufficient and certified headsets for augmented reality. This case study points to the need to continue to develop the technology, its application and comparison with other options for training and instructing employees.

Keywords:

Setup, maintenance, production line, specialists, support, headset, guides, SWOT analysis.