IMMERSIVE TRAINING:LEARNING WITHOUT STOPPING THE PRODUCTION LINE
Virtual reality (VR) has moved beyond the experimental stage to become a key tool in Finvalia’s smart maintenance block. Our pilot project, developed in collaboration with Invel Technologies, addresses a very specific problem: how to train maintenance teams when machines can’t be stopped, tasks involve risk, and the need is to train quickly, safely, and in a scalable way.
What do we train in VR?
The immersive environment already covers the full spectrum of maintenance tasks: inspections, preventive maintenance, repairs, and safety procedures. Operators can practice each step hands-free, with no risk to people or assets, and without halting production, through two methods:
- Guided training: Visual and textual instructions walk users through each step.
- Autonomous assessment: Operators go through the procedure without assistance; the system tracks successes and errors, sends results to the corporate LMS, and highlights areas needing reinforcement.
Measured Benefits of Smart Maintenance
- Faster learning curve: “You learn to fish by fishing.” Immersive practice improves retention and confidence.
- Record scalability: The same VR module can be deployed at any factory sharing the same process (e.g. melamine lines), reaching the entire team in days instead of months.
- Knowledge traceability: Data from each session reveals where most errors occur, enabling standardized training across shifts.
- Know-how retention: The system captures senior technicians’ expertise, creating a reusable interaction catalogue for future processes and internal certifications.
Challenges overcome
The lack of eye-tracking in the headsets was solved by implementing a virtual pointer to verify where the user is looking and validate the inspection of gauges or oil levels. Moreover, involving both junior and senior staff from day one ensured pilot acceptance and helped refine the interface into something truly intuitive.
Next steps
- Add new high-risk processes (working at height, lockout-tagout).
- Link VR evaluation with the talent management system to issue automatic certifications.
- Share the methodology with other SMEs in the consortium to democratize immersive training.
With this solution, Finvalia shows that Industry 4.0 can also be learned with a headset on—boosting safety, efficiency, and knowledge retention across the entire value chain.
