ZF Friedrichshafen: assisted reality vs. analog instructions for technical tasks
A peer-reviewed comparison of Dropslab’s assisted-reality system vs. analog work instructions at ZF Friedrichshafen’s Saarbrücken training centre. 0% error rate, 40% cost savings.
This study was conducted in collaboration with Dropslab Technologies S.à.r.l. and academically supervised by htw saar. Technical cooperation was provided by ZF Friedrichshafen AG’s training centre in Saarbrücken.
The aim was to determine the efficiency of assisted-reality (AR) systems compared with traditional analog systems for completing technical tasks. The hypothesis was that participants using the AR system would complete the task faster than those using paper-based instructions, in line with what mixed-reality applications typically aim to deliver.
Results
- 0% — error rate
- 40% — cost savings
- 1.7x — faster task completion
What was achieved
- Participants using the assisted-reality workflow reached a 0% error rate on the test task
- Significantly faster task completion vs. the control group using paper instructions
- Methodology and findings independently verified by htw saar (Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft des Saarlandes)
- Demonstrates a measurable productivity case for rolling out AR-based work instructions across technical training