Toyota Drives Continuous Improvement with MR

/

Toyota is well-known for its focus on Kaizen, or continuous improvement. So it’s no surprise that the automaker was an early adopter of 3D data and AR-guided processes.

Toyota adopted the Microsoft HoloLens 2 and created four mixed reality environments using tools in the Microsoft stack, Unity, Pixyz, and more. Using this new approach, the company saves time, improves vehicle repair quality, provides innovative training for technicians, and encourages collaboration

Toyota’s virtual pipeline starts by importing vehicle data into Unity using Pixyz. This process quickly converts Toyota’s large computer-aided design (CAD) assemblies into lightweight content suitable for real-time 3D.

Toyota can then develop custom applications and deploy them to various platforms for a wide range of uses from training sessions in VR and creating realistic car configurators to condensing inspection workflows.

Toyota is saving time, reducing costs, and driving efficiencies with mixed reality (MR) by:

  • Enabling remote assistance in field service

  • Improving design reviews for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis

  • Increasing understanding of vehicle functionality

  • Reducing mistakes in field service

  • Making it easier and faster to create field-guidance applications

  • Reducing human error during inspections

MR has greatly helped Toyota in the area of field service. Toyota experts are spread around the globe, but with HoloLens 2 and Dynamics 365 Remote Assist experts and field technicians can share the same view, communicate, and collaborate wherever they are. This allows remote staff to inspect work, educate, and train field engineers, while saving considerable time and money, and improving overall results.

Instead of using 2D diagrams to inspect complex electrical wiring configurations, Toyota’s field service engineers can visualize the entire three-dimensional electrical wiring diagram inside the engine, doors, dashboard, or any other part of the car without the labor and time needed to remove physical parts.

Toyota has even streamlined how it creates tutorials and field guidance for workers. In the past, creating a digital version of a work procedure would take up to 10 days and require an onsite computer graphics engineer. Now, usingDynamics 365 Guides, the same task takes 90% less time—just one day. This automated process allows anyone with basic training to create necessary applications through detailed instructions and guidance, freeing up programmers to focus on other tasks.

Toyota is also using MR in digital engineering, assembly, and several other stages of the automotive lifecycle. Sounds like MR is helping fuel innovation at Toyota.