Oliver Brask Pedersen thought his first day as a technician at Novo Nordisk would observe lots of the acquainted patterns: assembly new individuals, determining the place the cafeteria is, and receiving primary directions for his new job. But he was in for a shock.
The pharmaceutical big, a frontrunner in international diabetes drug manufacturing, is pioneering using rising digital applied sciences for all the things from simplifying flooring operations at their manufacturing services all over the world to conducting digital web site visits from 1000’s of miles away. A number of of these embrace options Microsoft HoloLens 2, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Remote Assist, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Guides, and Microsoft Power Platform.
This contains introducing so-called augmented directions, by way of HoloLens 2, to buy flooring staff, giving them new capabilities to each assist course of efficiency and to onboard for brand spanking new procedures.
“I had no idea what it was,” Pedersen mentioned of his first expertise with the HoloLens 2. “Once I put it on, it felt pure and you bought used to it. I like getting my palms on issues, that is simpler for me. And the HoloLens felt extra sensible than studying a bit of paper. For a primary timer, it was rather a lot simpler.
With greater than 49,000 individuals in 80 workplaces and 17 manufacturing websites worldwide, Novo Nordisk is answerable for half of the world’s insulin provide and serves greater than 34 million diabetics in 170 nations. The firm’s manufacturing services are a whirlwind of exercise, with strains continually processing batches of medication.
For instance, up to now, when altering a format on the manufacturing line the place Pedersen works, staff needed to learn and bear in mind the in depth directions or get assist from a colleague, which may very well be time consuming.
“It’s a lot easier to teach people if you can show them what to do,” says Pedersen.
Of course, pharmaceutical organizations should all the time adjust to authorities necessities and laws, which may typically be fairly advanced. For Novo Nordisk, each know-how answer should adjust to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), that are mandated by nationwide well being authorities for organizations that produce medical merchandise reminiscent of medicines, medical units and extra.
By assembly these necessities, processes are dependable and constant and staff have the best {qualifications} and coaching. Novo Nordisk labored with Microsoft to make sure it might implement revolutionary approaches, reminiscent of utilizing the HoloLens 2, whereas complying with these laws.
Embrace new know-how
The HoloLens 2 allows technicians and operators like Pedersen to navigate advanced processes utilizing real-time 3D directions written and permitted particularly to be used with the HoloLens. This helps to make sure that each step is accomplished efficiently, whereas permitting them to visualise their total working surroundings.
“Depending on the specific use case or instruction, you will be guided step by step,” says Ole Feddersen, Corporate Vice President of Product Supply Technology Transformation at Novo Nordisk. “It will say, ‘Unscrew this bolt.’ “Turn this lever to the left.” “Take this one out and put a brand new one in.” All the time there shall be arrows telling you what to do and the place to go subsequent, the place to verify, and so on. You get a really intuitive efficiency all through the operation whereas having each palms free.”
The implementation of blended actuality has enabled Novo Nordisk and different forward-thinking firms to ship simpler course of efficiency and higher adapt staff to new processes, whereas maximizing the worth of hybrid and distant working.
While the soar from analog to digital could appear surprising to long-time staff, Novo Nordisk discovered that almost all staff had been desirous to discover this new know-how.
“It’s actually been a really positive experience,” Feddersen mentioned. “We were concerned that this could cause problems for some people and that some might even be afraid of it and not use it. But we’ve seen the exact opposite: people on the shop floor in our factories really wanted to try this and once they tried it, they found it to be a fantastic help.”
With greater than 1,000 staff working with HoloLens 2 know-how through the pilot, Novo Nordisk has made beneficial properties within the consistency of labor being carried out and given staff a way of innovation inside their day-to-day work. Many Novo Nordisk staff get pleasure from being a part of the corporate’s drive to remodel the business and really feel empowered to assist in the method.
Alex Knudsen is one other oral completed product technician at Novo Nordisk. He has labored with the blended actuality answer from the start of the pilot and appreciates how line staff have been capable of present their enter on the augmented directions to assist them work extra effectively.
As the variety of permitted augmented directions grows, there’s additionally a world group gathering to share finest practices and strategies on how you can enhance the HoloLens 2 course of.
“They’ve solicited a lot of input from people who use the guides every day,” says Knudsen. “If we see something that can be optimized, we can work with our local experts and the central team to change the improved instructions.”
Another benefit of utilizing the in depth directions is {that a} extra versatile office has been created. By utilizing augmented directions, newcomers can begin executing new processes a lot quicker.
“It’s all about improving performance consistency and gaining workplace flexibility,” mentioned Anne Kathrine Vejgaard, Senior Manager, Extended Reality and Digital Consulting at Novo Nordisk. “We make sure we do things right the first time. Part of the feedback we’ve heard is that operators can now perform more complicated tasks, processes that they couldn’t do before. That makes the work more attractive for many people.”
Remote Assist involves the rescue
With manufacturing services everywhere in the world, journey is usually a main bottleneck in sure conditions. Instead of sticking to the standard guidelines, Novo Nordisk began serious about disrupting the requirements and began utilizing Remote Assist with the HoloLens 2 to create digital web site visits and found that the method might ship outcomes with out the time and the trouble of travelling.
“We heard from many of our sites that they were initially unsure about the experience of using the HoloLens compared to standing next to your supplier. But now they see the benefit,” Vejgaard said. “Imagine you only need four hours with someone from Germany and you’re in China. Let’s try the HoloLens before we consider traveling.”
Remote Assist may assist to make sure that all the things runs easily on the manufacturing line. For Knudsen, an automation undertaking stalled as a result of the engineer was unable to entry the Denmark web site to assist modify the cobots (collaborative robots) utilized in manufacturing. HoloLens 2 might assist alleviate the issue.
“Instead of having to wait for the technician to access it, we just put on the HoloLens and accessed the program on site,” mentioned Knudsen. “He helped us make the changes we needed. This is a very good option.”
As Novo Nordisk expands using know-how all through the corporate, we hope to extend the effectivity and manufacturing of crucial medicines on a world scale to serve extra sufferers and scale back the variety of paper processes used. In addition, the corporate needs to reap the benefits of the instruments to draw and rent extra staff by digitization and automation.
“I think the most exciting thing for the shop floor workers here is the way we can connect them to our production systems so they don’t have to go to one computer screen and not another screen. room,” Feddersen said. They don’t have to read anything. The information comes to them.”
“We can information them now the place we’re principally taking them by a predefined course of, however as soon as we get additional alongside, and possibly utilizing different units, we will dynamically inform individuals what to do. It turns into a bit like driving from A to B with GPS, the place you do not have to learn the map prematurely and must memorize the route. During the day you’ll be advised the place to go. Getting that type of data to our individuals makes a giant distinction. That is thrilling.”
Top picture (GIF): Novo Nordisk staff use the HoloLens 2 to assist course of efficiency and onboard for brand spanking new operations.
Source: information.microsoft.com