MinerAlert
MinerAlert
Inside the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC) Paso del Norte at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), engineering meets innovation in a way that feels like a glimpse into the future. Students wearing headsets assemble real equipment while digital instructions appear right in front of their eyes, no manuals, no guesswork, just step-by-step guidance powered by technology.
This is the vision behind the TMAC Mixed Reality Technology Project, an initiative designed to help manufacturers explore how Mixed Reality (MR) can transform training and maintenance. Using tools like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Guides and Remote Assist, the project demonstrates how digital instructions can be integrated directly into a worker’s field of view, creating a more interactive, efficient, and engaging learning experience.
The idea came to Jeevarathinam Senthilkumar, TMAC Technology Field Engineer after visiting EATON, a global power management company. He watched a supervisor guide an operator step-by-step through printed instructions displayed on a monitor. “It worked, but it took a lot of time and attention from the supervisor,” Senthilkumar said. “That moment made me think there must be a better way.” That observation sparked his exploration into Industry 4.0 solutions, and how Mixed Reality could bridge the gap between traditional training and the modern manufacturing floor.
Many manufacturers still rely on printed manuals or one-on-one instruction to train workers, methods that can be time-consuming and difficult to scale, especially as experienced employees retire. Mixed Reality changes that by delivering interactive, hands-free digital instructions directly in front of the user, ensuring tasks are completed accurately and efficiently.
Through live remote assistance, experts can also guide workers in real time, reducing the need for travel and minimizing production downtime. The technology supports faster onboarding, better knowledge retention, and improved safety, helping manufacturers train faster and work smarter. “Mixed Reality helps make Industry 4.0 practical on the shop floor,” Senthilkumar explained. “It combines efficiency with hands-on experience.”
The project supports the Industrial, Manufacturing and Systems Engineering (IMSE) department and TMAC’s shared goal of strengthening partnerships between UTEP and the regional manufacturing community. Within UTEP’s Smart Manufacturing Innovation Lab, IMSE students work alongside TMAC engineers to apply advanced technologies to real-world challenges.
"This project supports one of the strategic thrusts for TMAC by bridging academic research involving advanced manufacturing technologies with practical, industry-ready solutions,” said Dr. Amit Lopes, TMAC’s Regional Director. “By combining UTEP’s engineering expertise with TMAC’s on-the-ground industry engagement and support, we’re helping regional manufacturers adopt smarter technologies that enhance productivity and advance workforce development."
One student researcher, Shaunak A. AItal, under Senthilkumar’s mentorship, is studying how Mixed Reality compares to traditional training methods, measuring improvements in accuracy, efficiency, and user experience. Unlike virtual reality, which immerses users in a completely digital world, Mixed Reality blends physical and virtual environments. It allows users to interact with real equipment enhanced by digital overlays, combining visualization, data, and safety. This makes it ideal for training and maintenance applications that require precision and context.
Although large-scale implementation is still underway, several regional manufacturers have attended UTEP TMAC workshops and expressed interest in adopting the technology. The team’s next goal is to pilot Mixed Reality in a local manufacturing company to demonstrate measurable benefits and encourage broader adoption across the region.
“Projects like this highlight the College of Engineering’s commitment to innovation that drives real impact,” said Dr. Kenith Meissner, Dean of the College of Engineering. “Our faculty, students, and partners are not just exploring advanced technology, they’re applying it to solve the challenges that matter most to our community and industry.”
The TMAC Mixed Reality project demonstrates how the UTEP College of Engineering transforms research into real-world solutions. By connecting students, faculty, and industry, the college is driving the adoption of smart manufacturing and advancing workforce development in the Paso del Norte region.
At UTEP, innovation doesn’t stop in the classroom—it happens in the lab, on the factory floor, and in every project that helps shape the future of Industry 4.0.
Find out more at: https://www.utep.edu/engineering/tmac/