Augmented Checklists: a new approach to industrial tasks

What are industrial checklists?

Checklists are used as a step-by-step verification, inspection, procedure, and process. In other words, they describe a series of mandatory checks that must be carried out to complete a task. Checklists often include a specific workflow and seek to verify that a worker has executed a process following the necessary steps. Moreover, they serve as documentation of previous actions (including the need for any corrective steps).

"...checklists have been lifted from paper and screens and turned into augmented tasks..."

In this sense, checklists remind workers of all critical steps to be taken during pre- and post-operation procedures. They are also used to ensure process quality, adhere to time frames, and, most importantly, guarantee safety. 

Checklists are used to conduct inspections, carry out maintenance, deliver training, and safety audits, and complete operational tasks, among others. They also ensure that tasks are done right on the first attempt.

What are some of the main challenges related to checklists in the industry?

Legacy Checklists

The increasing incorporation of digital technologies into the daily operations of shop floors has made legacy checklists outdated and impractical. This refers to paper-based checklists which must be located, filled, and stored every time they’re used.

As a result, physical checklists consume more time and effort and have limited functionality as they often lead to errors and can be difficult to locate and consult. Lastly, while checklists contain relevant information, they are often misused as their paper format makes it difficult to extract insights or correlate other information to it.

Digital Checklists

But that’s not all: digital checklists can also sometimes be ineffective or insufficient. While this new form of paperless checklist offers workers more mobility and a more efficient way to store and consult checklists, they have shortcomings. In fact, digital checklists only take advantage of a new digital format. However, they maintain the same type of interactivity as legacy checklists: workers still depend on on-page text to carry out checklists.

Connected Work

Augmented checklists combine the concept of digital checklists with a new innovative approach to industrial tasks. Checklists are not only digitized, they are integrated into a wider network of operational tasks and industrial procedures.

In practical terms, this means that each checkpoint in a checklist can generate actions, flag potential issues, prompt alerts, and ensure workers’ safety. In addition, checklists can be tracked in real time as they are being filled out.

Contextualized information

However, the biggest novelty offered by augmented checklists is contextualized information. By using Augmented Reality-based checklists and AR markers on mobile devices or wearables, workers can locate specific sites within shop floors. This helps them ensure they are in the correct place and carrying out the correct actions. Workers will then be able to follow AR digital elements (containing images and text) to check each step. Simultaneously, AR-powered contextualized information will contribute to error-free checklist completion rates.

Moreover, new and experienced workers will be able to perform all sorts of checklists, contributing to the expansion of their autonomy, skills, and decision-making.

Ultimately, augmented checklists are a crucial element in the next frontier of digital industrial work. Augmented checklists not only present an entirely new approach to conventional checklists, but they are also more comprehensive and add significant value over digital checklists.

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To perform a 4M Analysis you only need to assign the procedure to a worker or team and they just need to pick up their mobile device and start following all instructions and filling the requested informations.

It’s even possible to score your 4M procedure in order to quickly analyse the procedure finding and performance. In addition, you are going to be able to add photos and videos, something that is not possible with paper reports.

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