Metalloinvest and JSA Group Expand Employee Training Program Based on Virtual Reality Technologies

2023: Expanding Employee Training Program Based on Virtual Reality Technology

Metalloinvest and JSA Group have expanded the possibilities of the program of interactive training in three-dimensional space for employees of the repair services of Mikhailovsky GOK named after A.V. Varichev. To the scenarios available earlier, a course on training the skills of carrying out maintenance of BelAZ mine dump trucks has been added. JSA Group announced this on November 8, 2023.

The VR simulator allows you to recreate almost any situation associated with the repair of a car and work out algorithms for eliminating even rare malfunctions. Information on the characteristics of cars, their units and units is as complete as possible and regularly updated. The program includes a unit for adapting to training, training and fixing practical skills with audio support of a 3D instructor, as well as an examination component.

As a result, the flexibility and adaptability of the course to real production situations has been increased, up to 80% of unproductive pauses during training have been reduced, while the resulting is information easier to absorb and better remembered. According to the coaches, the effectiveness of skill development has more than doubled.

The transition to a better level of personnel training, which includes an individual approach and standardization of the training course at all industrial sites, is one of the key tasks of the Company. In this regard, a unique VR simulator was developed with a comprehensive digitization of the industrial environment in which training takes place. All objects of the virtual world are as close as possible to real ones, from workshops to tools, - said Natalya Vinogradova, head of the production asset efficiency department of Metalloinvest.

A. V. Varichev Mikhailovsky GOK continues to actively implement technical developments as part of the Company's digital transformation program. One of these solutions is the use of VR technologies to train specialists in the maintenance and repair of production equipment. Training in the virtual world successfully complements traditional methods, combining the effectiveness of mastering new skills and a high level of security, "explained Anton Zakharov, Managing Director of Mikhailovsky GOK.

The VR simulator supports multiplatforms and can run both on a personal computer using a VR helmet and joysticks, and on individual latest generation VR devices with optical tracking.

The training course was held by the first group, including specialists from the automotive tractor control of MGOK. If earlier employees could learn only with the actual conduct of maintenance by experienced specialists and often expected 2-3 hours between the transition from one stage to another, now this period takes no more than five minutes, "explained Andrei Gaman, head of the VR JSA Group. - At the same time, during the training, breaks for rest are provided. To do this, our simulator has a timer that gives a signal to an employee in virtual reality to pause the work. At this stage, training is conducted on a first-come, first-served basis. When one of the users works in the simulator, others observe the process on the TV panel, through the eyes of the student. Multiplayer with the possibility of multiplayer mode will soon appear.

It is also planned to connect the course to its own distance learning system developed by the JSA Group using virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) with the creation of digital educational meta-universes, as well as the launch of training robotic hardware and software systems based on the latest generation of 6DO platforms that will allow you to remotely control heavy industrial equipment.