Toyota, a global automotive powerhouse, owes much of its success to its commitment to kaizen, the philosophy of continuous improvement. A recent addition to their kaizen arsenal is the integration of mixed reality technology through Microsoft HoloLens 2.

The collaboration between HoloLens and the Dynamics 365 Guides application has paved the way for Toyota to address their workforce’s skills gap. With a workforce attuned to technology, the new training program’s adoption has led to heightened training efficiency, and students find this modern learning approach preferable.

Within their new training academy, Toyota imparts the skill of vehicle assembly to students on the production line. Dynamics 365 Guides plays a pivotal role by providing students with hands-on training that equips them for success on the frontline. The application employs step cards and holograms that guide users through the precise locations for parts and the correct installation procedures. Toyota describes Guides’ self-paced format as “training on demand,” replacing traditional one-on-one sessions with a system that enables trainers to oversee multiple students efficiently.

Guides’ elegance stems from its user-friendly interface. Trainers can create and update guides without requiring any programming skills. This flexibility is essential for the automotive industry, where new models and parts emerge annually. Subject matter experts can swiftly integrate new steps for installing parts, which workers on the frontline can promptly incorporate into their routines after a few guide repetitions.

Consistency emerges as another benefit derived from Toyota’s utilization of Guides. Serving as an extension of subject matter experts, the application efficiently educates and guides employees through tasks. During the pandemic, Guides proved invaluable for training, as social distancing mandates kept instructors at a distance. This ensured uniformity in communication and instruction, as all employees received consistent information from subject matter experts. Through its holographic spatial elements, Guides eliminates any ambiguity regarding part placement, akin to an e-learning course.

The deployment of Mixed Reality and HoloLens is poised to expand into other operational realms. Possibilities include using Guides for maintenance, resolving straightforward issues to free up subject matter experts for more complex problems. Digital twins introduce real-time collaboration from remote locations, streamlining development, curbing prototype production, and reducing travel. Most notably, mixed reality and HoloLens are poised to contribute to Toyota’s goal of becoming carbon negative.

As technology advances, Toyota’s embrace of mixed reality and innovative training methods demonstrates their unwavering dedication to maintaining their global leadership in the automotive sector.