EU 7th Framework Project ManuVAR Will Change Approach to High Value High Knowledge Manual Work
The ManuVAR project was launched in May 2009 under the EU 7th Framework Programme. The ManuVAR project will demonstrate that high value, high knowledge manual work presents an opportunity to improve the competitiveness of EU industries.
The key objectives of ManuVAR are to:
- Improve EU industry competitiveness via knowledge-based business models;
- Increase productivity and quality, improving the value of high value, high knowledge manual work at every stage of the product lifecycle;
- Reduce the need for global outsourcing;
- Support efficient knowledge and skill management;
- Facilitate adaptation to customized products.
These objectives will be achieved by employing virtual and augmented reality technology (VR / AR) to improve communication between people and systems. ManuVAR will apply this existing technology to improve ergonomics, safety, work assistance and training in the manufacturing and service industries. The use of this technology will also enable the two-way flow of knowledge, its accumulation, reuse and sharing. This will be achieved throughout the entire product lifecycle and across subsequent system generations. ManuVAR will engage with various people from designers to factory workers, operators, maintenance personnel, and end-users.
The potential benefits of ManuVAR will apply to individual workers, companies, manufacturing and services industries, Governments and ultimately the EU. The measurable benefits of VR / AR technology implementation will include:
- Improved competitiveness and productivity for industry;
- Improved quality through the product life cycle;
- Increased tax revenue, lower welfare payments and release of scarce healthcare resources for Government by reducing work place accidents and illnesses;
- Improved employee health and wellbeing from better ergonomics and reduced risks;
- Increased job satisfaction from better training and interaction with technology.
Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the partners in VTT, Tampere, Dr. Boris Krassi, ManuVAR Project Coordinator said: “This is an important and valuable project for companies involved in high value, high knowledge, manual work processes. We expect to achieve measurable and significant benefits in competitiveness and productivity – challenging issues at this time. In doing so we plan to improve the health and well being of employees involved in these processes.”
The consortium comprises 18 partners representing industry, research and academia. In ManuVAR, there are five application clusters in different industrial areas: specialised manufacture of scientific products, remote maintenance of complex transport carriers, maintenance of power plant facilities, large machine maintenance and light assembly line design.
For further information, please contact:
Eddie Shaw, Carr Communications, Dublin, Ireland
Tel: (+353.1) 772 8900
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
EDITOR’S NOTES:
Project Overview:
Manual work is a crucial and expensive component of manufacturing. Globalization causes companies to reduce manual work costs by off-shoring and global outsourcing. This poses problems such as increased lead times, lower quality products and services, and weaker management. Because of the pressure of globalization and the decline of the working age population in Europe, the situation will get worse in sectors with a large proportion of high value manual work that cannot be automated or outsourced. The ManuVAR project aims to provide a timely and systematic solution to this problem.
ManuVAR is funded by the European Commission under the EU 7th Framework Programme and has a total funding of €7.4 million.
Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)
Virtual Reality (VR)
Virtual reality is a technology that allows us to put the user inside a computer-generated world, allowing you to interact with the 3D virtual environment. For example, a learner driver can drive a virtual car during night time to experience this type of driving in a safe environment. Virtual reality can also be used for training purposes, for example, maintenance tasks, by using a virtual prototype. Another area of use is designing maintenance operations with a virtual prototype or remote controlling robots inside harsh environments based on virtual models.
Augmented Reality (AR)
Augmented Reality is a technology which adds computer generated information into our daily life, layering our normal vision with additional computer-generated information. For example, if we open our car bonnet to see the motor, we may not recognise which part of the engine is which. With augmented reality, we can present information on top of our real life situations, for example providing a 3D arrow showing where the battery is. A simple example of how augmented reality can be applied in a football game on TV is an option, when required, to see the names of the players for easier audience recognition. Another example of its application is the HUD in a military fighter plane (and some commercial aircraft).
ManuVAR Partners:
- Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT), Finland
- Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation (IFF), Germany
- Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Netherlands
- Fatronik - Tecnalia, Spain
- Institute of Communications and Computer Systems (ICCS), Greece
- Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Ireland
- University of Malaga (UMA), Spain
- University of Nottingham (UNott), UK
- Tampere University of Technology, Department of Intelligent Hydraulics and Automation (TUT), Finland
- Thales Alenia Space Italia (TAS-I), Italy
- IPA Total Productivity, Netherlands
- Metso Minerals, Finland
- New Strategies of Maintenance S.L. (NEM S.L.), Spain
- Tecnatom, Spain
- Carr Communications, Ireland
- Hermia Business Development (HBD), Finland
- Association for Advancement of Radical Behavior Analysis (AARBA), Italy
- cards PLM Solutions, Netherlands
