2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

The future of manufacturing is human-centric, and it involves workers collaborating effectively with artificial intelligence (AI), robots, and machines. The growth of these emerging technologies are revolutionizing existing manufacturing jobs rapidly. This disruption has necessitated the need to upskill and reskill the manufacturing workforce. The integration of non-technical skills into manufacturing education is increasingly recognized as essential for preparing students to meet the demands of the modern workforce. Non-technical skills, often referred to as soft skills, encompass a range of competencies including communication, teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, and situation awareness (SA). The concept of SA is barely discussed as a vital non-technical skill in manufacturing education, particularly as the industry evolves with advancements in technology and complexity. This skill is essential for decision-making in dynamic manufacturing environments. The ability of workers to achieve a high level of SA is critical for ensuring productivity, while maintaining safety. Virtual reality (VR) has become a promising solution for manufacturing education to train the future workforce. SA enables operators to sense, comprehend, and make informed decisions to respond to dynamic conditions. Research indicates that SA is vital for individual performance as well as for team dynamics and overall operational efficiency. Studies have shown the relevance of SA for manufacturing applications especially in smart manufacturing and robotic systems, but not in the context of a VR environment. Studies in the context of VR environments have focused on SA during driver tasks, police threat assessment, and medical education; however, these studies have not considered a manufacturing education and training perspective. Therefore, this study aims to explore how students develop SA skills during manufacturing tasks in a VR manufacturing education context. The objective is to assess how learning through an immersive environment enhances students' SA skills by applying SA theory in manufacturing education. The expected outcomes of this research include a deep understanding of student SA development in the context of learning through VR technology. This will promote the incorporation of SA training in manufacturing education, a critical skill for future manufacturing workers.