Exploiting Augmented Reality in Lean Manufacturing: Opportunities and Challenges

The purpose of this paper is to investigate Augmented Reality applied into a real industrial context (Industrial AR) from a new perspective: AR is not anymore seen as a standalone technology for assisting specific manufacturing tasks, but rather as a totally integrated framework within future factory workplaces. In the last 15 years, both academic and industrial research communities have seen the huge potentiality of AR in improving industrial performances in several scenarios, but it is undeniable that no killer-apps or de-facto standard as well as scalable solutions have been developed yet. The paper addresses the issue from a new and different point of view showing how AR can potentially be exploited in order to boost lean-based manufacturing and management processes, thus guaranteeing more efficient production and higher competitiveness. The paper is organized with the aim to underline the new and feasible opportunities offered by the proposed approach, as well as the main technological and conceptual challenges connected to it. Finally, a potential framework capable of enabling AR features for visual management in real factories is proposed.