Extended Reality for Process Visualization in Cloud Manufacturing: A Systematic Review

The advent of cloud-based processes represents a novel opportunity within the manufacturing industry. However, a lack of common understanding of integration persists. The virtualization of manufacturing and logistics processes provides the foundation for subsequent stages of visualization. Conversely, the visualization of processes facilitates a deeper comprehension of the value streams involved, thereby enabling improvements to be made. In this regard, the objective of this research is to assess process virtualization techniques in cloud manufacturing, with a particular focus on existing academic literature in the field. Consequently, this investigation also encompasses an exploration of immersive visualization techniques in cloud manufacturing environments. For the purpose of this research, a systematic literature review is conducted in the SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Science Direct databases. Various methods and implications for the virtualization of cloud manufacturing processes available in the literature are identified, analyzed, and summarized. Furthermore, the potential for visualizing data related to cloud manufacturing processes in extended reality is also investigated. The findings of this research offer scientists the prospect of further investigation into the cloud manufacturing paradigm, for example in the context of virtual learning factories.