How the JLG® AR App Increases Efficiencies

For many years, equipment manufacturers have provided operation and safety manuals and various video content to help operators better understand and use their machines.

The new JLG augmented reality app supplements these materials by providing on-demand, digital tools that help improve safety on the job site.

The app offers three tools to help increase machine knowledge and safety, including assistance with performing machine inspections. This vital information is available in 29 languages, making it ideal for fleet owners around the world and those with a multilingual workforce.

Let’s take a scenario where the JLG AR app improves efficiency when completing maintenance tasks…

 

Conducting an Annual Inspection

Jim is a service technician for Desert Sun Rentals, a small rental company that serves the Phoenix metro area. One of his jobs is to perform annual inspections. Today, he’s inspecting a SkyTrak® 10042 telehandler.

He’s excited to try out JLG’s augmented reality app, which streamlines the documentation and management of inspection data. He’s been doing inspections with printed forms, a clipboard and a pen for years. He then has to transfer all of this data into Desert Sun’s computer system, which is time-consuming and prone to human error. 

Using the AR app should minimize post-inspection work and save him a lot of time.

Jim starts by using the app to capture the machine’s information. He points his phone’s camera at the 10042’s serial number. The app automatically captures it and loads it into the machine information form on the screen. It’s a long, alphanumeric number, which is easy to type incorrectly, so auto-fill is quite helpful. This inspection is off to a smooth start!

Next, he types in the Desert Sun machine ID for this telehandler and opens the engine compartment panel to read the hour meter reading, which he types into the machine information form. Then, he enters his inspector information and the owner information, which the app requires. 

With this preliminary step complete, Jim begins the inspection. While standing in front of the 10042, he taps the AR tab of the inspection tool and points his phone toward the ground. A target pops up on the screen, which enables him to place the AR model of the machine where he wants it. He then uses the app’s controls to rotate, position and superimpose it over the actual machine. Once he’s satisfied with its alignment, he “locks” the model in place.

As soon as Jim does so, a set of floating white pins appear, which represent the subassemblies of the 10042. He taps on the pin for the control panel. An inspection checklist appears entitled “Functions & Controls.” As he taps on each step, the app tells him how each control is supposed to function. When he taps on the checkbox next to each item, he’s able to select from four statuses: Pass, Fail, Needs Work or Not Applicable.

One of the inspection steps in this section says, “All joysticks/toggle controls return to neutral/off position when released.” The joystick sticks when he moves it, so he uses the app to photograph it and adds a note to replace it. 

Next, he inspects and gives passing grades to the control detents, footswitch and emergency stop button. Each step in the process shows what the control or component looks like. That helps him find it faster. It also ensures he doesn’t skip any steps in the inspection process.

This is kind of fun, Jim muses. It’s certainly a lot easier than having to carry a clipboard, a stack of inspection sheets and a pen while at the same time testing controls and inspecting the telehandler’s various systems and components.

As Jim completes each section of the inspection, its floating pin changes color to teal green. This makes it easy for him to see what’s done and what’s next in the inspection process. When the inspection is complete, the app prompts him to sign it. Once he does so, he can no longer edit it. This prevents anyone from tampering with the inspection record.

The app then enables Jim to export it and email it to himself for storage in his firm’s inspection database. No need to type in all of this data by hand anymore — a real productivity booster!

Overall, this was a positive experience, Jim concludes. It took what used to be an onerous, time-consuming process and transformed it into something more seamless. It’s also significantly faster than the old, paper-based inspection process. 

No more scribbling notes in the margins of the paper form each time he finds something that needs attention. The app’s ability to take pictures of issues and store them with the inspection is a huge benefit. 

After using the JLG augmented reality app, there’s no going back to paper inspection forms. From now on, this is Jim’s preferred way to perform annual inspections! 

Interested in learning more about JLG’s augmented reality app? Click here. 

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