At its production academy in Munich, where BMW provides training for its managers, production planners, process leaders and quality specialists, augmented reality (AR) technology is being put to good use.

Since last year, AR headsets have been assisting trainees through sessions on engine assembly units. Participants, kitted with headsets, are taken through the stages of collecting parts from bins, selecting tools and applying the part to the block. Their view of the surroundings is augmented with visual instructions, such as arrows directing them toward the part bin, synthesised images of the component and its placement, all laid over the real block in front of them.