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Metaverse for Manufacturing: Leveraging Extended Reality Technology for Human-Centric Production Systems

Author

Listed:
  • Vivian Egbengwu

    (Surrey Business School, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK)

  • Wolfgang Garn

    (Surrey Business School, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK)

  • Chris J. Turner

    (Surrey Business School, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK)

Abstract

As we progress towards Industry 5.0, technological advancements are converging; this movement is realised by the increasing collaboration between humans and intelligent digital platforms and further enabled by the interactive visualisation modes provided by Metaverse technology. This research examines the practical applications and limitations of Metaverse technology providing insights into the transformative possibilities it offers for the manufacturing sector. Specifically, the research was guided by the core objective to trace the evolution of Metaverse technology within manufacturing. This study provides a comprehensive and state-of-the-art analysis of the adoption and impact of Metaverse technologies in the manufacturing sector. While previous research has explored aspects of Industry 4.0 and digital transformation, this study specifically focuses on human-centric manufacturing (human-in-the-loop) applications of Metaverse technology, including augmented reality, virtual reality, digital twins, and cyber-physical robotic systems. Findings from the systematic literature review indicate that Metaverse technologies, primarily augmented reality and virtual reality, have evolved into powerful tools in manufacturing. They are widely adopted across sectors in the industry, transforming processes such as product design, quality control, and maintenance. Augmented reality and virtual reality offer intuitive ways to visualise data and interact with digital twins, bridging the gap between physical and virtual realms in manufacturing. A roadmap and scenarios for the introduction of Metaverse technology in manufacturing are provided with suggested adoption timespans. Furthermore, the systematic literature review identified barriers hindering the wider adoption of Metaverse technology in manufacturing.

Suggested Citation

  • Vivian Egbengwu & Wolfgang Garn & Chris J. Turner, 2025. "Metaverse for Manufacturing: Leveraging Extended Reality Technology for Human-Centric Production Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-23, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:1:p:280-:d:1559014
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zaheer Allam & Ayyoob Sharifi & Simon Elias Bibri & David Sydney Jones & John Krogstie, 2022. "The Metaverse as a Virtual Form of Smart Cities: Opportunities and Challenges for Environmental, Economic, and Social Sustainability in Urban Futures," Post-Print hal-03997438, HAL.
    2. Saeed, Abubakr & Ali, Ashiq & Ashfaq, Saira, 2024. "Employees' training experience in a metaverse environment? Feedback analysis using structural topic modeling," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    3. Weiran Cao & Zengjie Cai & Xu Yao & Lifeng Chen, 2023. "Digital Transformation to Help Carbon Neutrality and Green Sustainable Development Based on the Metaverse," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-15, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Soumya Kuber & Dr Mallikarjun Naik, 2025. "Integrating Metaverse Technologies in Manufacturing: A Case-Informed Conceptual Framework and Future Directions," International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI), vol. 12(7), pages 194-205, July.

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