Augmented reality as a means of conveying picking information in kit preparation for mixed-model assembly

- An experiment is presented, simulating kit preparation in mixed-model assembly.
- Both single-kit preparation and batch preparation are studied.
- A novel application of augmented reality is developed and tested.
- Augmented reality is found to be a viable option for conveying picking information.
- The augmented reality application performs especially well in batch preparation.

Kitting is a materials feeding principle that is increasingly common in mixed-model assembly. Currently, there is no consensus within industry regarding how picking information should best be conveyed to support kit preparation and research on the topic is scarce. The purpose of this paper is to determine whether information conveyance through augmented reality can be used to support time-efficient kit preparation, considering the two commonly applied approaches of single-kit preparation and batch preparation. The paper presents a novel application of augmented reality and tests it in a realistic laboratory experiment. As a basis for comparison, a traditional printed paper list is also tested. In the experiment, augmented reality is competitive both in terms of time-efficiency and picking accuracy, both for single kit and batch preparation, which indicates that augmented reality can constitute a viable option for conveying picking information in kit preparation. Especially for the batch preparation, where more information needs to be displayed, the augmented reality application is associated with considerably better performance than the paper list. The paper suggests that future research efforts should include studies on augmented reality applied in an actual industrial setting over a longer period.