Virtual reality applications in manufacturing industries: Past research, present findings, and future directions

TLDR

Manufacturing industries aim to boost competitiveness by integrating information technology, and virtual reality is increasingly employed in product development to consolidate information and accelerate decision‑making through visualization. The study surveys and analyzes 154 articles on virtual reality applications in manufacturing. The authors construct an analysis map based on VR technology classification and the new product development process, locate the articles on this map, and conduct bibliometric analyses. The review identifies past and present research trends and proposes future virtual‑reality research directions and application plans for manufacturing enterprises.

Abstract

Today, manufacturing industries are trying to improve their competitiveness by combining manufacturing per se with information technology. Virtual reality is being used in product development processes in manufacturing enterprises as a helpful technology to achieve rapid consolidation of information and decision-making through visualization and experience. In this article, 154 articles relevant to virtual reality’s application to manufacturing were surveyed and analyzed. For this, (1) an analysis map was created, based on a virtual reality technology classification and the new product development process; (2) the articles investigated were located on the map; and (3) bibliometric analyses were carried out. Trends in past and present research were examined and future virtual reality research directions and application plans for manufacturing enterprises are discussed.