2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

The rapid advancements in manufacturing technologies and the increasing demand for skilled labor have underscored the need for innovative approaches to manufacturing education. Traditional methods of teaching manufacturing systems often fall short in providing the hands-on experience and collaborative skills required in today’s industrial environments. To bridge this gap, we developed a collaborative virtual learning factory, an immersive and interactive virtual reality (VR) environment designed to enhance the understanding of manufacturing systems and analyze human-human teaming and human-machine interactions. The virtual factory simulates the assembly of car toys, replicating key manufacturing paradigms such as craft production, mass production, mass customization, and personalized production. It offers learners an opportunity to engage with realistic manufacturing processes, collaborate with peers, and develop critical problem-solving skills in a safe and controlled environment. Additionally, the platform incorporates features that facilitate teamwork, enabling participants to work together on manufacturing tasks, thus fostering effective communication and collaboration. During the MakeIt session, we will present and demonstrate the VR manufacturing system and allow attendees to immerse themselves in the virtual factory. Participants will have the opportunity to experience firsthand the collaborative features and interact with the manufacturing environment, gaining insights into the educational and research potential of VR in modern industrial contexts. This demonstration showcases the ability of VR technology to transform how manufacturing systems are taught and highlights its impact on preparing the workforce for the demands of Industry 4.0.