How does MR help manufacturing leaders improve strategic decision-making?
Closing the gap between the boardroom and the factory floor has become a vital goal for modern manufacturing. Leaders are looking to fill skill gaps, improve operational efficiency and cut costs.
Bringing in new digital strategies is also important to keep pace with the rate of change. The global manufacturing industry is set for massive growth, expanding by over 50% by 2031 – from $13.5 trillion in 2023 to $20.8 trillion—driven by digital transformation.1
In this landscape, strategic decisions, once made in isolation, are now supported by powerful decision making tools, driven by real-time data and immersive insights. This is thanks to virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) in manufacturing. The technology transforms how manufacturing leaders approach everything from training and design to operational efficiency and strategic communication.
According to a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Meta in April 2025, 69% of manufacturers plan to expand their mixed reality use within the next two years.2 So, what’s driving this rapid adoption, and why is MR becoming vital for smarter decision-making?
Driving strategic decision-making with MR technology in manufacturing
When utilized as a decision-making tool, MR offers capabilities that enhance business decision-making across the manufacturing lifecycle. From visualizing complex processes to creating safe training environments, it helps leaders make informed choices that improve productivity and innovation.
VR training platforms, including Uptale, CGS Immersive, SkillsVR, and immerse.io, create rich, interactive learning experiences that deploy quickly. We're also seeing new innovative Meta Quest partners emerge, including LuminousXR, 3Spin Learning and ThingLink.
VR-only vs MR for training
There are two major categories of immersive training:
- VR-only training: This involves entirely virtual, scenario-based experiences within a Meta Quest headset. Software provider Gravity Sketch provides a useful example for its 3D design capabilities.
- MR with passthrough-based physical training: This blends virtual elements with real-world interaction. You can physically engage with simulators or large-scale environments. For example, walking a virtual oil field line, or getting hands-on with a physical rig. Software provider ForgeFX is an example—offering solutions for physical simulators.
By providing immersive training and collaboration, MR technology helps manufacturing leaders empower their teams, making confident choices that drive their businesses forward.
The impact can be measured across industries. VR training in the oil and gas industry is projected to exceed $4.5 billion by 2032.3 VR, MR, and augmented reality (AR) are also set to drive innovation in the food industry: a 2025 study in Japan evaluated a VR-based training system for restaurants, showing that systems can enhance staff awareness, priority settings and operational skills.4
Below, we dive deeper into the areas MR and VR are making an impact for manufacturing leaders.
Driving efficient communication with MR in manufacturing
Immersive content in VR and MR brings manufacturing concepts to life and makes the complex easy to understand – from immersive sales pitches to interactive tours. This is vital for strategic decision-making, whether showcasing new products to potential clients or engaging stakeholders in future plans.
An example of this in action is CUPRA. The car manufacturer had impressed consumers with the Tavascan concept car in 2019. But as the launch approached in 2024, dealerships worried customers were losing interest. Manufacturing delays also created a challenge, and dealers had to find a solution to maintain sales momentum.
CUPRA developed a MR Tavascan experience—a virtual replica with an interactive steering wheel, doors and a detailed interior. Meta Quest headsets were distributed to dealerships across Europe, providing easy access to content and enabling salespeople to guide customers through the virtual car. This initiative connected the production line to the shop floor, successfully generating presales without physical cars on display.
Inspiring confidence with MR in manufacturing
Effective training is the bedrock of a productive manufacturing workforce. MR offers opportunities for learning by doing: building confidence, and ensuring employees are future-ready. It’s also key to strengthening the bond with the bottom line—empowering workers with the assurance they need to excel.
According to Forrester Consulting research, 70% of leaders report the technology helps employees engage with the training content. But these aren’t just short-term benefits: 77% anticipate a positive impact on employee experience and 74% believe the technology will help grow employee retention over time.5
An example is Air France-KLM, who tackled costly, time-consuming training challenges with their MR training strategy. Starting with virtual cockpits, they expanded to early aircraft training and at-home practice for cabin crew with Meta Quest headsets. This commitment to immersive training fosters trust and understanding. As Werner Soeteman, Senior IT Manager, Air France-KLM, put it, “now, when the pilots know a new plane is coming, they’re asking us straight away: ‘when do we get our MR training for this?’”
Pfizer took a similar approach to their vital training during the pandemic. The pharmaceutical firm was faced with training hundreds of new operators for its COVID-19 vaccine with limited in-person access. They deployed over 500 Meta Quest headsets and created digital twins of their production lines. The results were clear: they achieved 40–60% time savings on behavioral aseptic training versus traditional methods.
Increasing productivity with digital twins in manufacturing
MR is proving to be a useful tool for productivity gains across manufacturing operations. Digital twins provide virtual replicas of manufacturing plants, using live data to enable businesses to test new ways of working – saving time and costs while identifying costly design flaws.
Forrester Consulting research shows 76% of leaders anticipate using MR for visualizing factory spaces for design and redesign. As 78% of leaders predict, being able to visualize processes in real time with digital twins helps businesses manage complex systems and catch issues early.6 This leads to smarter investment decisions in facility design and helps to optimize processes.
Take Mortenson, for instance. The data center builder often faced costly post-design issues that added operational risk. By creating a digital twin, they equipped over 50 stakeholders with Meta Quest headsets, enabling them to walk through designs and provide instant feedback before construction.
This approach worked: stakeholders identified over 600 issues, leading to an estimated $26.5K in construction cost savings from fixing just one accessibility issue. As Mortenson's Integrated Construction Manager, Ryan Zoldan noted, using VR for coordination was "a pretty eye-opening experience."
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Keep reading about working in mixed reality (MR):
What is the best VR headset for work?
Using VR to train for the auto-mechanics trade
6 innovations shaping the future of work
Sources
- “2025 Manufacturing Industry Insights: Navigating a Web of Opportunity and Challenge”, Trust your Supplier, January 2025
- A commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Meta, April 2025. Base: 108 Decision-makers involved in learning and development technology decisions in manufacturing organizations in North America and Europe.
- “Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) in Oil and Gas Market”, Credence Research, Jan 11, 2024
- “Development and evaluation of a restaurant virtual reality training system for enhancing awareness and priority-setting skills”, Mai Otsuki and Takashi Okuma, Scientific Reports, (2025) 15:18673
- A commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Meta, April 2025. Base: 108 Decision-makers involved in learning and development technology decisions in manufacturing organizations in North America and Europe.
- A commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Meta, April 2025. Base: 108 Decision-makers involved in learning and development technology decisions in manufacturing organizations in North America and Europe.
