Training, learning, and development of employees in a safe environment is one of the biggest challenges faced by industries such as oil and gas, mining, pulp and paper, and heavy machinery manufacturers. The workforce in these industries are exposed to heat, danger due to equipment handling, are required to handle explosive material or face chemically harmful radiation.
Further, they are given theoretical training and lack a level of physical training that is quintessential to understand the job role completely. It is a cycle where one requires training or experience to be deployed and at the same time requires a monitored environment to be able to train them properly.

This lack of ‘simulation-based’ training that was plaguing the industry is being answered by ‘Virtual Reality Technology’ or ‘VR technology,’ as it is commonly called. Virtual Reality based industrial training is redefining ‘safety’ in the industrial workspaces.
From enabling controlled training environments to giving near hands-on experience, VR has been facilitating the improvement of workforce training in the manufacturing space.
Some of the ways in which VR training has been helping manufacturing:

1. Simulation-based training

Training unskilled workers to be deployed in mines through actual physical training is a costly and risky affair. Worker safety can be compromised if unskilled or semi-skilled employees are deployed in a live environment. And enabling one-on-one training sessions for a large group is a time-consuming affair.

With VR technology, users get an immersive training experience. Simulation as real as a live working environment better prepares them for work. Safety-wise, labourers can be upskilled in a monitored environment without risking physical safety. Businesses save up on the capital cost incurred in training with simple and easy to VR gears and technology.

2. Better site mapping and planning

Despite engineering designs being planned on 2D and 3D, testing scenarios can be quite challenging for companies. Aspects like Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) training, instructions on working in heights, exposure to chemical radiation or approaching a fire can be better taught in immersive and visuals-based training with VR.
Employees understand the imminent threats and optimal safety equipment requirements with VR. A visual walk-through of the site map enables them to completely understand the restricted areas. With some of the VR solutions offering training for emergencies, it improves a worker’s emotional quotient and enables them to approach it. Design-wise, site mapping and gaps in design and development can be addressed with VR technology.

3. A comprehensive evaluation method

Evaluation is often one of the most overlooked aspects of training, learning and development. Unless one is tested on the competency of the training received, the man-hours and cost spent towards it might be futile. To understand the effectiveness of the training, a level of evaluation that is closer to the live environment is necessary. Virtual Reality industrial training offers just that, enabling businesses to reap an all-round benefit of training.
UPS, a US-based parcel service company has been using VR to train drivers in their workforce. A five-day training for new drivers is given, in a Training room environment with demonstrations and then trainee is tested in a VR environment. Since introducing the VR component, the retention rate has climbed to 75 per cent.

As industries move towards automation and predictive analytics based operations, VR-based training enables in improving workplace efficiency. Operational cost, safety, and skill-levels of the employees are also enhanced greatly. Moving towards a world where amalgamation of technology is disrupting the workforce and the operations as we know it, Virtual Reality based training offers hands-on experience and better prepares the workers for the industrial setup.

Why CHRP-INDIA?

CHRP-INDIA provides customised XR solutions and after-market services. We work with technologies like Steam VR, Vive, Unreal Engine and Unity to give businesses world-class immersive technology solutions. We have a deep domain experience in Industrial/Engineering industry, where VR can be leveraged to enhance the level of efficacy in training on Safety Awareness, Equipment Operations, Service/Troubleshooting, and Maintenance Training.
If you would like to know more about our AR/VR/MR Solutions (or) would like to book for a live demo to experience the virtual reality and talk to our experts, Call us on +91 40 6634 0090 / 91 (or) write to us [email protected]

The post Industrial plant needs a VR Safety Training methodology appeared first on CHRP-INDIA.