For vocational training and further education, learning factories are suitable for making complex interrelationships comprehensible and tangible. The participants are in a real production system as a learning environment, in which real plants and processes are used.
Technische Universität (TU) Darmstadt is the operator of a learning factory. Here, they offer – among others – a workshop for value stream mapping, which is an important part of the Lean method. This method allows the sequence of process steps and information to be tracked from origin to delivery to the customer.
The participants stated that due to the high complexity of the industrial production environment, they have difficulties in transferring the learned skills to the operational situation in their own company.
This is where the BMBF-funded PortaL project comes in: TU Darmstadt and UReality are developing a VR training to extend the existing workshop. The aim is to facilitate the transfer of production-related training and further training contents into operational practice by means of a VR-based teaching/learning concept. This shall be achieved by:
- Transfer-oriented action tasks in a virtual environment
- Experience-based feedback through active action
- Adaption and personalization of the learning process
Thus, further scenarios can be offered at a reasonable price and in a space-saving way.
VR Prototype: Scissor Production
The prototype shows the production of scissors: from the delivery of the raw materials to the pressing and sharpening the blades, the assembly of the scissors and the engraving to the packaging for shipping. During training, the participants collect information needed for a value stream mapping interactively, either in single player mode or in small groups in multiplayer mode. Furthermore, the trainer can configure the training for the participants via a web interface.
The prototype was released in November 2019 for user testing. The final release will be in September 2021. You can keep informed about the current progress of the project by following on Twitter
Quelle: Kathrin Augustin, UReality, Kirchner Konstruktionen GmbH
