Virtual Reality-Based Engineering Education to Enhance Manufacturing Sustainability in Industry 4.0

TLDR

Recent advances in product manufacturing and Industry 4.0 have highlighted the need for modern training methods, especially virtual‑reality visualization, to engage and educate new generations about complex systems such as reconfigurable manufacturing. The study proposes a virtual‑reality–based technique to train students in Industry 4.0 concepts and reconfigurable manufacturing systems, aiming to build competency for future manufacturing settings. The approach employs a virtual‑reality platform that guides students through the design, interaction, operation, and performance evaluation of reconfigurable manufacturing systems.

Abstract

Many advanced product manufacturing approaches have been introduced in the market in recent years. Thus, it is critical to develop modern techniques which can effectively familiarise budding minds with the latest manufacturing procedures. In fact, the contemporary training methods and advanced education practices are crucial to uphold the interest of the new generation as well as to equip them with state-of the art systems. There is a need for innovative ideas and effective methodologies to inculcate the desired competency and prepare students for prospective manufacturing set ups. In the latest Industry 4.0 paradigm, visualization technologies, especially virtual reality, have been emphasized to sustainably train and educate young students. This work presents a technique for utilizing the leading visualization method based on virtual reality in product manufacturing. It aims to acquaint students with the prominent concept of Industry 4.0, the reconfigurable manufacturing system (RMS). The RMS has been a demanding topic for the novice and, most often, amateurs are not able to grasp and interpret it. Therefore, this paper outlines the various steps that can be useful for students in order to anticipate the RMS design, interact with it, understand its operation, and evaluate its performance.