Session Recap: Bridging the Industrial Skilled Workforce Gap with XR and AI

At this year’s Industrial IMMERSIVE Week, we got to hear from Nathan Pettyjohn, CEO of The Immerse Group and President of the VR/AR Association. He talked about solving the skilled workforce gap with XR and AI technology.

Here’s a recap of that session. You can watch this and other Industrial IMMERSIVE Week sessions on demand here.

In the session, “Bridging the Industrial Skilled Workforce Gap with XR and AI,”Pettyjohn highlighted the imminent challenge of the skilled workforce gap, exacerbated by the retirement of baby boomers and the influx of millennials into the workforce. He emphasized the massive deficit in manufacturing, especially—7.9 million workers by 2030—and stressed the importance of leveraging XR and AI technologies to address the issue.

Pettyjohn discussed the potential of XR in various sectors, showcasing applications such as digital twins for training and compliance, VR and AR training for safety and upskilling, and mixed reality for field maintenance. He presented real-world examples of companies using XR technologies to achieve significant productivity gains and cost savings.

Notable gains include 15% to 35% productivity improvements in the picking process, nearly error-free manufacturing due to guided workflows and real-time assistance, and a 30% to 40% reduction in resolution time for field service tasks. These metrics underscore the effectiveness of implementing XR technologies in enhancing operational efficiency and reducing errors across different industries.

In the session, Pettyjohn also highlighted the transformative impact of VR training, citing research showing improvements in employee confidence, engagement, and cost-effectiveness compared to traditional training methods. Reports are showing a 40% improvement in confidence compared to classroom learners, 35% more of the VR students are attuned to taking action, and 52% lower costs doing training in VR versus in the classroom.

Examples from companies like Chevron, Walmart, UPS, and DHL highlighted the tangible benefits of VR training in reducing accidents and errors while enhancing order fulfillment.

Moreover, Pettyjohn emphasized the importance of considering factors like employee adoption, platform selection, and change management when implementing XR technologies. He said, “I think one of the key considerations is, yes, this technology's awesome and we can have great pilots, but there needs to be a change management plan in place to encourage the workforce to embrace the new technology and utilize it regularly, otherwise it can fail.”

He concluded by encouraging participation in organizations like the VR/AR Association to further explore and leverage these transformative technologies in industrial settings.