The industrial metaverse represents the next step in the evolution of manufacturing and engineering. Stemming from Industry 4.0, it focuses on automation, data exchange and analytics, artificial intelligence, and robotics. The goal of the industrial metaverse is to integrate humans with machines so that they work together more efficiently in a virtual world.
It allows companies to collaborate and share information in real-time, which can help to increase productivity and efficiency, and provides an immersive experience for engineers to share and develop ideas. It’s also a way for businesses to connect with their customers and partners and share their products and services.
While the industrial metaverse is still in its early stages, it’s already being used by many companies in different industries.
Businesses are taking advantage of the industrial metaverse to improve their processes, enhance health and safety, streamline their operations, speed-up product development and create immersive experiences for their customers.
Here are a few ways industrial metaverse applications can benefit your business.
What is the industrial metaverse?
The metaverse rose to prominence in the gaming and film industries and the media several years ago.
However, businesses and industrial operators are slowly starting to adopt its applications – such as Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality – to create immersive virtual environments to build and test new products, services and processes.
In a nutshell, the industrial metaverse refers to technologies that allow businesses to connect digital representations of objects, people, places and things with the real world.
For example, with AR, engineers can overlay digital assets on physical environments to see how they function within their surroundings. With VR, they can immerse themselves in a digitised environment and collaborate with other people in this virtual world. Technology such as smart gloves means people can touch and feel objects that might be hundreds of miles away, in a different factory or location.
It’s estimated that globally, the industrial metaverse will be worth £450bn in revenue by 2025, as more commercial operators invest in Industry 4.0 tools and technologies.
We’re already seeing the shift towards industrial metaverse applications, with some of the world’s biggest tech companies and manufacturers taking the lead.
Microsoft, for example, has added digital twins to its metaverse technology stack that allow users to create virtual models of real-life objects. Boeing uses digital and holographic modelling to develop its jet engines, while Unilever uses metaverse technology to create virtual simulations of its production lines, to see where it can achieve greater efficiencies and reduce waste.
The big advantage of these last two examples is that both companies can create and test their concepts and ideas to failure in a virtual environment without having to invest in physical infrastructure.
What are the benefits of industrial metaverse applications?
Industrial metaverse applications are used to connect people, data and processes. They provide a virtual environment where engineers can collaborate and make decisions. Industrial metaverse applications have been gaining traction in recent years with the rise of Industry 4.0. Here are some of the benefits they offer:
Product development
Metaverse technologies have brought a new dimension to product development to help reduce R&D costs and speed up the process.
Manufacturers can use VR technology to create digital ‘twins’ of physical environments, products and components to determine how they fit together and work in the real world.
This means product developers can find and iron out any potential issues and flaws, rapidly test digital prototypes to failure and fine-tune designs to eliminate defects before committing to production.
Training and safety
Staff training and health & safety are primary considerations for most manufacturers, engineers and industrial production operators.
For large, multi-site businesses, getting many staff together in the same place for training can pose big logistical headaches. Industry 4.0 and VR applications allow companies to train their staff virtually and remotely.
They can train their team on how to safely use and maintain hazardous equipment in a safe, controlled and risk-free virtual environment.
VR can also improve the training experience for employees by making it more immersive and interactive than simply sitting in a room and getting bored by PowerPoint presentations and traditional classroom-based activities.
Instead, they can interact with equipment and environments in simulated virtual environments and work through potentially dangerous and realistic real-world situations and scenarios with none of the real-world safety risks.
Maintenance and repairs
Industrial metaverse applications have revolutionised how service and maintenance staff can perform their work. They give engineers instant access to schematic diagrams or other essential paperwork they require on-site at the touch of a button, rather than having to take physical copies with them.
Technicians and engineers can use AR and VR technology to view immersive and virtual representations of training manuals and other documentation to fault-find, diagnose and identify possible solutions or repairs.
They also work seamlessly with other Industry 4.0 tools. By knowing and programming the expected uses for each part, every component within any system can be monitored and replaced before reaching its expected maximum usage.
Production data can be streamed via dedicated wifi, 4G or 5G connectivity, giving instant, real-time insight into machinery performance. This enables engineers to move from a traditional ‘fail and fix’ maintenance practice to a ‘predict and prevent’ approach.
Remote collaboration
Another critical area where industrial metaverse applications excel is how they enable remote collaboration. Designers can work with manufacturers, and manufacturers can work with suppliers or directly with their end-users in a virtual setting to develop and create bespoke solutions to their problems.
From product designs to process improvements, the potential for collaboration is vast. Like with product development, it can all be done without investing in physical production.
How Banelec can help you make the most of the Industrial Metaverse
The Industrial Metaverse is here to stay, so if you want to stay ahead of the latest trends and technologies – and, more importantly, your competition – you need to embrace it now.
From simple digital modelling of new products to complete virtual automated factory design, the options are limitless as technology evolves.
Banelec is a world leader in creating innovative solutions for some of the world’s biggest manufacturing and engineering brands. We’ve always got one eye on the future to see how we can utilise emerging technology to help our customers make their processes smarter, safer and more sustainable.
We bring diverse experience, knowledge and personality to every project we work on to exceed your requirements and specifications. Get in touch to see how we can help your business harness the power of the industrial metaverse.