Augmented Reality is the integration of digital information with the user’s environment in real time. Unlike Virtual Reality, which creates a total artificial environment, augmented reality uses the existing environment and overlays new information on top of it.
Let’s take a quick snapshot of Augmented Reality Technology with five use–cases showing how Total Immersion is defining a technology and making it real for businesses and consumers alike.
1.Furniture Staging:The ability to visualize a virtual catalogue of furniture, overlayed at scale into a room a consumer would like to furnish, and the ability to make purchase / buying decisions by composing multiple furniture arrangements together.
2.Geo-located messages or content:The ability to place a message, object, or 3d experience at a specific real world location, that can only be viewed through a device at that locations.Snapchat Art, WallaMe, World Brush.
3.Geo-located entertainment:Games that move users through the real world to specific locations to score points. Pokemon Go,Ingress, Jurassic World Alive.
4.Wayfinding:Overlaying traditional gps mapping directions onto the world instead of on a 2D map, for ease of navigation, and including fun characters like HotStepper.
5.E-Commerce product displays:Augmented Reality has always been anticipated to change the way people see the world around them, but it will also revolutionize the way we shop online. Seeing products in 3d in your own home before you buy, including virtually trying on clothing pre-purchase to increase the customer experience.
Many companies started to believe that augmented reality is an innovation of the future and investing in this technology, it’s providing business value right now.
We would like to thank David Gull, CEO Outer Realm for providing your inputs on how AR is being used in our world today.
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Smart Manufacturing Dashboards: A Real-Time Guide for Data-Driven Ops
Smart Manufacturing starts with real-time visibility.
Manufacturing companies today generate data by the second through sensors, machines, ERP systems, and MES platforms. But without real-time insights, even the most advanced production lines are essentially flying blind.
Manufacturers are implementing real-time dashboards that serve as control towers for their daily operations, enabling them to shift from reactive to proactive decision-making. These tools are essential to the evolution of Smart Manufacturing, where connected systems, automation, and intelligent analytics come together to drive measurable impact.
Data is available, but what’s missing is timely action.
For many plant leaders and COOs, one challenge persists: operational data is dispersed throughout systems, delayed, or hidden in spreadsheets. And this delay turns into a liability.
Real-time dashboards help uncover critical answers:
What caused downtime during last night’s shift?
Was there a delay in maintenance response?
Did a specific inventory threshold trigger a quality issue?
By converting raw inputs into real-time manufacturing analytics, dashboards make operational intelligence accessible to operators, supervisors, and leadership alike, enabling teams to anticipate problems rather than react to them.
1. Why Static Reports Fall Short
Reports often arrive late—after downtime, delays, or defects have occurred.
Disconnected data across ERP, MES, and sensors limits cross-functional insights.
Static formats lack embedded logic for proactive decision support.
2. What Real-Time Dashboards Enable
Line performance and downtime trends Track OEE in real time and identify underperforming lines.
Predictive maintenance alerts Utilize historical and sensor data to identify potential part failures in advance.
Inventory heat maps & reorder thresholds Anticipate stockouts or overstocks based on dynamic reorder points.
Quality metrics linked to operator actions Isolate shifts or procedures correlated with spikes in defects or rework.
These insights allow production teams to drive day-to-day operations in line with Smart Manufacturing principles.
3. Dashboards That Drive Action
Role-based dashboards Dashboards can be configured for machine operators, shift supervisors, and plant managers, each with a tailored view of KPIs.
Embedded alerts and nudges Real-time prompts, like “Line 4 below efficiency threshold for 15+ minutes,” reduce response times and minimize disruptions.
Cross-functional drill-downs Teams can identify root causes more quickly because users can move from plant-wide overviews to detailed machine-level data in seconds.
4. What Powers These Dashboards
Data lakehouse integration Unified access to ERP, MES, IoT sensor, and QA systems—ensuring reliable and timely manufacturing analytics.
ETL pipelines Real-time data ingestion from high-frequency sources with minimal latency.
Visualization tools Custom builds using Power BI, or customized solutions designed for frontline usability and operational impact.
Smart Manufacturing in Action: Reducing Market Response Time from 48 Hours to 30 Minutes
Mantra Labs partnered with a North American die-casting manufacturer to unify its operational data into a real-time dashboard. Fragmented data, manual reporting, delayed pricing decisions, and inconsistent data quality hindered operational efficiency and strategic decision-making.
Tech Enablement:
Centralized Data Hub with real-time access to critical business insights.
Automated report generation with data ingestion and processing.
Accurate price modeling with real-time visibility into metal price trends, cost impacts, and customer-specific pricing scenarios.
Proactive market analysis with intuitive Power BI dashboards and reports.
Business Outcomes:
Faster response to machine alerts
Quality incidents traced to specific operator workflows
4X faster access to insights led to improved inventory optimization.
As this case shows, real-time dashboards are not just operational tools—they’re strategic enablers.
Key Takeaways: Smart Manufacturing Dashboards at a Glance
Aspect
What You Should Know
1. Why Static Reports Fall Short
Delayed insights after issues occur Disconnected systems (ERP, MES, sensors) No real-time alerts or embedded decision logic
2. What Real-Time Dashboards Enable
Track OEE and downtime in real-time Predictive maintenance using sensor data Dynamic inventory heat maps Quality linked to operators
3. Dashboards That Drive Action
Role-based views (operator to CEO) Embedded alerts like “Line 4 down for 15+ mins” Drilldowns from plant-level to machine-level
4. What Powers These Dashboards
Unified Data Lakehouse (ERP + IoT + MES) Real-time ETL pipelines Power BI or custom dashboards built for frontline usability
Conclusion
Smart Manufacturing dashboards aren’t just analytics tools—they’re productivity engines. Dashboards that deliver real-time insight empower frontline teams to make faster, better decisions—whether it’s adjusting production schedules, triggering preventive maintenance, or responding to inventory fluctuations.
Explore how Mantra Labs can help you unlock operations intelligence that’s actually usable.
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