ABSTRACT
Manufacturing companies have been facing various challenges in recent times, particularly in producing innovative products and changing requirements from customers and suppliers requiring new technological roadmaps and interventions in manufacturing systems. The next generation of smart manufacturing is characterised by intelligent and qualified operators who perform the work with the support of machines, interact with collaborative robots and advanced systems, and use technologies such as wearable devices and augmented and virtual reality. Augmented and virtual reality can be adopted for workforce training by interacting with a human workforce in an efficient way. The challenge is to design and implement integrated AR/VR manufacturing systems that could enhance manufacturing processes and product and process development, leading to shorter lead-time, customer satisfaction by visualising the product, reduced cost, and improved quality. The ultimate goal is to create a system that is as good as the real world, if not better and more efficient.
