AR Transforming Food Processing: Bridging Realities in Industry 4.0
Kushagra Agrawal
Incorporating Cyber-Physical Systems has led industries to the concept of Industry 4.0. The term was coined in 2011 at the Hannover trade fair in Germany. Factories have paved the way for intelligent factories promoting innovative manufacturing practices. This concept has been incubated in different countries under different names, such as “Make In India” for India, “Innovative 25 Program” for Japan, and “Made in China 25” by China. Industry 4.0, also known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, is all about connecting people, machines, and products with each other.
The significant change brought by Industry 4.0 is making the food industry way better. It’s like going from using essential tools to a super smart system. The journey from simple food-making to Industry 4.0 is about how technology performs the job according to expectation of people. Back when people started making food, things were done by hand, using basic machines, and there wasn’t a set way to do things.
When Industry 1.0 came along, machines like steam engines made things more accessible, but it was still pretty limited. Industry 2.0 made food in large amounts with electricity and assembly lines, which made things way more efficient. Then came Industry 3.0, which used computers to complete some tasks automatically. It was a bit better, with computers and controllers to help, but everything didn’t work together that well. But now, with Industry 4.0, everything’s changed. It’s like all the cool stuff from digital tech, data crunching, smart gadgets, and robots have come together. The food world isn’t just separate parts working alone anymore. Smart factories now use info from sensors and gadgets to make food quickly and change things as needed. Using computers and data helps make better choices, like knowing what people want to eat or how to move food around.
And with Industry 4.0, we can keep an eye on food from when it’s made to when it’s eaten. This is thanks to tech like the Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain, which ensure everything is transparent and safe. Plus, we can make food just how people like it and need it, unlike before everything was the same for everyone. This change to Industry 4.0 isn’t just about machines. It’s also about how people think. Now, the food industry wants to be better for the environment, work well, and be clear about what’s happening. Going from old ways to Industry 4.0 shows how smart people can change things when the world constantly changes. This significant change helps make food safer, better quality, and fits each person, while also taking care of the Earth and making everything work together.
Augmented Reality (AR) is a pivotal technological advancement within the framework of Industry 4.0, redefining how we interact with our physical surroundings through the seamless integration of digital elements. AR bridges the tangible and the digital by superimposing computer-generated visuals, data, and information onto real-world environments in real-time. In the context of Industry 4.0, where the convergence of digital technologies with manufacturing processes defines the landscape, AR emerges as a transformative force with multifaceted applications.
One of the notable roles of AR in Industry 4.0 is its reimagining of maintenance and repair procedures. By displaying intricate instructions, schematics, and step-by-step guides directly onto physical machinery, AR empowers technicians to carry out tasks with unparalleled precision and efficiency. This translates into reduced downtime, improved uptime, and significantly decreased errors during the maintenance process. Moreover, AR spearheads a revolution in workforce training and development. Through immersive training experiences that blend digital simulations with real-world scenarios, trainees can grasp complex concepts with greater ease and depth. This expedites the learning curve and equips workers with the skills needed to excel in their roles, enhancing overall productivity within the industrial ecosystem.
In manufacturing, AR injects a new level of sophistication into assembly and production processes. AR guides workers through intricate assembly procedures by overlaying visual cues, animations, and guidelines onto physical workstations. This ensures that products are assembled with meticulous accuracy and accelerates the production cycle. Additionally, AR serves as a dynamic tool for quality control, identifying defects in real-time and enabling swift rectification. The influence of AR extends beyond the factory floor to remote collaboration, allowing the experts to provide real-time guidance to on-site workers regardless of geographic constraints. Through AR-assisted communication, experts can annotate live visuals, offer instructions, and troubleshoot issues from remote locations. This capability has the potential to streamline operations, reduce travel costs, and enhance overall operational agility.
Augmented Reality in Industry 4.0 is a transformative catalyst that redefines the relationship between humans, machines, and data. By seamlessly merging the physical and digital realms, AR empowers workers, enhances operational efficiency, fosters collaboration, and paves the way for a more agile, responsive, and interconnected industrial landscape.
Consumers’ evolving preferences for sustainable, innovative, and high-quality food items within shorter timeframes have spurred the urgency for the food industry to swiftly incorporate Industry 4.0 technologies to remain competitive. By doing so, the industry can effectively address these demands. An additional advantage lies in leveraging customer trends to promptly deliver fresh products. Despite not being a novel concept, the intricate nature of food processing poses challenges, and its complexity is escalating rapidly. However, the emergence of Augmented Reality (AR) has introduced a range of opportunities for the food sector to navigate these challenges and optimize their operations. AR facilitates efficient customer engagement, even with minimal resources, enabling seamless consumer interactions.
Consumer demands have shifted towards sustainable, innovative food products that boast enhanced safety, superior quality, and quicker delivery. Hence, the food industry must promptly embrace Industry 4.0 technologies to effectively tackle these challenges and retain competitiveness. There are further advantages in understanding customer preferences, enabling the swift provision of fresh food items. Despite being a familiar strategy, the intricate nature of food processing is undergoing rapid growth, causing increased complexities. However, the emergence of Augmented Reality (AR) introduces novel prospects for the food sector, aiding in resolving these challenges and optimizing business outcomes. AR offers opportunities to establish robust connections with customers while utilizing resources judiciously, proving especially effective in customer interaction.
Improving Employee Safety
Augmented Reality (AR) is being successfully utilized in maintenance tasks within the manufacturing sector. For instance, machine operators wearing AR headsets receive step-by-step instructions through digital overlays in their work environment. AR’s potential extends to improving employee safety during maintenance, as seen in the case of a hot-break juice extractor machine. In the realm of food product processing, AR can overlay functions for inspection and processing, minimizing the risk of errors that could lead to product recalls. An employee equipped with an AR-enabled tablet can comprehend intricate machine processes, access real-time information, and identify faulty components.
Improving logistic efficiencies
Augmented Reality (AR) finds practical use in manufacturing maintenance, providing step-by-step guidance to machine operators through AR headsets and digital overlays. It enhances employee safety during maintenance, exemplified by its application to hot-break juice extractor machines. In food processing, AR overlays functions for inspection and processing, mitigating error risks and potential recalls. AR-enabled tablets empower employees to understand complex processes, access real-time data, and identify faults.
R&D for new food product development
Augmented Reality (AR) proves valuable in manufacturing maintenance by offering step-by-step guidance to machine operators through AR headsets and digital overlays. It also enhances employee safety during maintenance tasks, as illustrated with hot-break juice extractor machines. In food processing, AR overlays functions for inspection and processing, minimizing the risk of errors that could lead to product recalls. AR-enabled tablets empower employees to understand complex processes, access real-time data, and identify faults.
As the contours of Industry 4.0 continue to reshape the manufacturing world, the food and beverage industry stands at the forefront of this transformation, armed with the revolutionary power of Augmented Reality (AR). With roots traced back to the Industrial Revolution, the evolution from Industry 1.0 to 4.0 has been marked by exponential technological leaps. AR emerges as a pivotal force in this progressive journey, binding the physical and digital realms into a harmonious symbiosis. Once reliant on manual processes and essential machinery, the food industry now embraces an era where machines, data, and human expertise converge seamlessly. Augmented Reality, a product of this digital age, has become a beacon of efficiency, safety, and innovation. From enhancing maintenance procedures with real-time visual guidance to revolutionizing quality control through real-time defect detection, AR transcends barriers to elevate production, product integrity, and customer satisfaction.
As we gaze ahead, the combination of AR with Industry 4.0 in food processing holds immense promise. The challenges of an intricate domain are met with solutions that empower employees with unprecedented insights and capabilities. The pursuit of sustainable, high-quality food products finds its ally in AR-enabled logistics and rapid customer interaction. This fusion of technologies reshapes how food is made and consumed and how the industry interacts with its workforce, customers, and the environment. Industry 4.0, epitomized by the convergence of humans, machines, and data, continues to script the story of progress. Augmented Reality, with its ability to overlay digital wisdom onto physical processes, adds a dynamic chapter, enabling us to re-envision food processing. As AR dismantles barriers and reforges relationships, we step into a realm where the boundaries between reality and augmentation blur, and the future of food processing takes on a new, exciting, and distinctly digital flavor.
Author’s Bio
Kushagra Agrawal is a computer science scholar at School of Computer Engineering, KIIT Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, India
References:-
Jagtap, S., Saxena, P., & Salonitis, K. (2021). Food 4.0: Implementation of the Augmented Reality Systems in the Food Industry. Sustainable Manufacturing Systems Centre, School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing, Cranfield University, UK; School of Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, India. Version of Record published online 26 November 2021. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2021.11.191.
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