Assessing augmented reality in production: remote-assisted maintenance with HoloLens

Digitalisation provides many opportunities for process improvements by using smart devices such as Augmented-reality (AR) displays in production. Nevertheless, in-depth studies about the effects of these applications on key performance process indicators are sparse. The goal of this study is to evaluate AR-based remote maintenance processes supported by cutting edge optical head-mounted display technology. A total of 12 test runs conducted with real-world maintenance engineers in a real-world industry setting were analysed based on video recordings and semi-structured interviews. The study identified both case-specific and general issues, and the inherent potential of the technology.