Augmented Reality in Manufacturing: 12 Use Cases and Who Builds Them

Augmented reality in manufacturing has a longer and better documented track record than almost any other enterprise XR use case. Aerospace and automotive manufacturers have published results from AR deployments for nearly a decade, covering assembly, inspection, maintenance, training and remote support. The pattern is consistent: AR pays off where a worker needs precise, task-specific information at the point of work, with their hands busy.

This guide collects twelve industrial augmented reality use cases, each tied to a named deployment and a public source, then covers what buyers should plan for and who builds these systems. Many of the best-documented deployments are several years old, and some ran on hardware or software that is now being retired, so each case is dated.

Quick Answer: Manufacturers use AR for assembly guidance, inspection against the digital model, hands-free work instructions, training, connected tools and AR remote assistance. Documented results include a 25% cut in Boeing's wire harness assembly time, Airbus A380 bracket inspections falling from three weeks to three days, and Lockheed Martin completing Orion spacecraft manufacturing activities in 90% less time. Platforms such as PTC Vuforia, Scope AR and TeamViewer Frontline cover packaged workflows; custom studios such as Treeview build bespoke applications.

12 Use Cases of Augmented Reality in Manufacturing

1. Wire harness assembly guidance (Boeing)

Wire harnesses involve thousands of connections, and technicians traditionally cross-checked PDF instructions on a laptop. In a pilot using Google Glass with Upskill's Skylight software, Boeing said wire harness workers cut assembly time by 25% and significantly reduced error rates (CIO, July 2016). Line-of-sight instructions removed the constant switch between screen and work.

2. Inspection against the digital mock-up (Airbus)

Airbus launched its MiRA augmented reality application in 2011 to overlay the digital mock-up of an aircraft on physical parts. Airbus reported that using it for A380 fuselage inspections reduced inspection times on system supports from three weeks to three days, and that by 2016 it ran on about a hundred tablets used by more than 1,000 people.

3. Supplier quality control (Spirit AeroSystems)

The same technology moved down the supply chain. Airbus unit Testia supplied its AR inspection system to Spirit AeroSystems for inspection and quality control of A350 XWB fuselage brackets before delivery to Airbus, at factories in Kinston, North Carolina and Saint-Nazaire, France, according to the same Airbus announcement.

4. Hands-free installation instructions (Airbus)

Moving from tablets to head-mounted displays freed both hands. Airbus said in 2017 that hands-free guidance on Microsoft HoloLens enabled 25% quicker installation, and that its internal program had identified more than 250 use cases across the company.

5. Complex assembly and fastener placement (Lockheed Martin)

Lockheed Martin began using AR for NASA's Orion spacecraft in 2017, using HoloLens 2 with Scope AR's WorkLink software to place fasteners, tape and components from holographic work instructions. NASA reported in 2020 that across four sites, Lockheed Martin completes spacecraft manufacturing activities in 90% less time than with traditional methods, with one eight-hour task completed in 45 minutes.

6. Connected tools and digital audit trails (GE Aviation)

GE Aviation piloted Skylight on Glass paired with a Wi-Fi torque wrench, so the correct torque value appeared in the mechanic's view and each measurement was recorded. GE Aviation reported an average 8% to 12% increase in mechanic efficiency (July 2017).

7. Surface and coating inspection (Toyota)

Toyota used HoloLens to project inspection patterns directly onto vehicles for film coating inspection, instead of creating them by hand. Microsoft reported in 2018 that a process which took one to two days and multiple people now took four hours and one person.

8. Guided inspection and training (Toyota)

With Dynamics 365 Guides on HoloLens 2, trainers built step-by-step instructions that let team members train independently, so one supervisor could oversee several trainees at once. Microsoft reported in 2022 that Toyota reduced inspection time by 20%, and that trainees ranked the approach as their preferred way to learn.

9. Factory and machinery layout planning (Toyota)

Placing full-scale holograms of equipment in a real facility lets teams check fit, clearances and flow before anything is moved. Toyota was trialing Microsoft's layout tool for machinery planning in 2018, according to Microsoft.

10. AR remote assistance for service technicians (Mercedes-Benz USA)

AR remote assistance lets a technician share a live first-person view with a remote specialist. Mercedes-Benz USA equipped its authorized US dealerships with HoloLens 2 and Dynamics 365 Remote Assist, and a service manager told Microsoft that issues could now be resolved "in minutes and hours as compared to days" (September 2020).

11. Remote diagnostics across a dealer network (Porsche)

Porsche Cars North America introduced "Tech Live Look" smart glasses running Atheer's AiR Enterprise software to connect dealership technicians with its technical support team. Porsche said a July 2017 pilot at eight dealerships showed it could decrease service resolution time by up to 40%.

12. Field service and on-site measurement (thyssenkrupp)

thyssenkrupp used HoloLens with Remote Assist for elevator service and reduced service call duration fourfold, and its HoloLinc toolkit let salespeople measure staircases for stair lifts on site, shortening a process that took 40 to 70 days to 14 days, according to Microsoft (2018).

What These Deployments Have in Common

• A narrow, measurable task. Every result above is tied to one job: a harness, a bracket inspection, a torque step. None of them is "AR for the factory".
• Digital data already existed. CAD models, digital mock-ups and work instructions were the raw material. AR delivered them to the point of work.
• Hands-free matters for assembly; tablets are fine for inspection. Airbus started on tablets and moved to headsets for installation work.
• Integration drives value. GE's audit trail and the service workflows at Mercedes-Benz and Porsche depend on connecting AR to tools and systems of record.

Plan for Platform Change

Several of the best-known deployments ran on Microsoft's stack, which is being wound down. Microsoft stopped selling HoloLens in 2024 and, per Road to VR, provides critical updates for HoloLens 2 only through December 31, 2027. Microsoft has also announced that Dynamics 365 Guides and Remote Assist reach end of support on December 31, 2026, after which the apps stop working. Manufacturers with programs on that stack need a migration plan now, and new programs should keep 3D content and work instructions in formats that can move between devices.

Who Builds Industrial AR

Buyers usually combine a platform for common workflows with custom development where the workflow is specific.

Platforms (unranked, alphabetical):

• PTC Vuforia - industrial AR for manufacturing, service and training, including Vuforia Chalk for remote assistance.
• Scope AR - WorkLink for AR work instructions and remote expert assistance, used on Orion.
• TeamViewer Frontline - AR workflows and remote assistance for frontline workers.

Custom builders:

1. Treeview - a custom AR, mixed reality and digital twin studio that builds for HoloLens 2, Magic Leap 2, Apple Vision Pro, Meta Quest, mobile and web. Its work includes an AI-enabled mixed reality digital twin for Microsoft and green hydrogen developer Teyma. It suits manufacturers whose workflow, data integration or device mix does not fit a packaged product. Website: treeview.studio.

For ranked vendor lists, see Best AR Companies for Industrial and Manufacturing Training and Best AR Companies for Field Service and Remote Assistance. For deeper dives, read How AR Remote Assistance Works, AR in Automotive Manufacturing and our AR connected worker platform buyer's guide. For budgets, see How Much Does an AR App Cost in 2026?

Frequently Asked Questions

How is augmented reality used in manufacturing?

The most common uses are step-by-step assembly guidance, inspection and quality control against the digital model, hands-free work instructions, training, remote expert assistance and connected-tool workflows. Documented examples include Boeing's wire harness assembly, Airbus bracket inspection and Lockheed Martin's Orion spacecraft assembly.

What results have manufacturers reported from AR?

Published results include a 25% cut in wire harness assembly time at Boeing, A380 bracket inspection falling from three weeks to three days at Airbus, spacecraft manufacturing activities completed in 90% less time at Lockheed Martin, and an 8% to 12% mechanic efficiency gain in a GE Aviation pilot. Results are specific to each task and deployment.

What is AR remote assistance?

AR remote assistance lets a technician share a live first-person view with a remote expert, who can talk them through the job and place annotations that stay anchored to the equipment. Mercedes-Benz USA, Porsche and thyssenkrupp have all used it to resolve service issues faster without sending an expert on site.

What hardware is used for industrial augmented reality?

Tablets and phones are the cheapest entry point. Hands-free work uses smart glasses or headsets such as RealWear devices, Apple Vision Pro or Samsung Galaxy XR (Magic Leap ended direct Magic Leap 2 sales in March 2026). Microsoft stopped selling HoloLens in 2024 and supports HoloLens 2 with critical updates only through December 31, 2027, so new projects should plan around that.