A software platform enabling rapidly customisable extended reality (XR) training and manufacturing assistance tools

The project will create a new way of training and providing digital operational support to medicines manufacturing staff who work in cleanrooms to produce new medicines. Currently, hands on training is delivered manually and takes 6-9 months before a new operator is fully competent to work in the cleanroom. In the project we will develop extended reality (XR) tools that enable 'hands on' training to be performed in a virtual reality headset instead of the physical cleanroom. This will reduce the amount of waste that is produced during training, particularly in terms of disposable plastic materials that once used are either incinerated or end in landfill.

An exciting innovation in our project is the addition of a desktop app that will include a workflow builder so that we can rapidly customise training protocols, because even for standard training processes, for example in gowning to enter the facility, companies each have slightly different protocols. Therefore, the XR tools need to be adaptable. The platform will also provide 'manufacturing operator assistance tools' that provide digital support such as instructions and guidance cues to reduce operator errors and enable data capture.

We will then test the platform by training apprentices who work in manufacturing roles in a range of UK medicines manufacturing companies, as well as with trainers. The testing will give us insight into the productivity gains, including waste reduction, training time and trainee confidence.