Paper and PDF instructions
Low cost to create, but hard to keep current across variants and stations, and there is no record of how each unit was built.
Arkite compared
How Arkite compares to other ways of guiding manual work.
Manufacturers guide manual assembly with paper, screens, lights or headsets. Arkite combines projected guidance, real-time validation, in-process inspection and production data in one platform connected to MES and ERP.
Last updated
Short answer
Guidance alone does not prevent errors. Validation does.
Paper and screen-based work instructions tell an operator what to do, but they do not check what the operator actually did. Pick-to-light confirms which bin was used, but not how the part was assembled. Wearable AR places information in front of the eyes, but adds a device per operator.
Arkite projects each step directly onto the workstation, checks every pick, placement and tool action with 3D sensing, can inspect the product during assembly, and records the result per unit. The same software core runs from a single pilot workstation to a multi-plant standard.
Comparison
Approaches to guiding manual assembly.
| Paper or PDF instructions | Screen-based work instructions | Pick-to-light | Wearable AR | Arkite | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step-by-step guidance at the workstation | – | ||||
| Instructions shown on the work surface itself | – | – | – | – | |
| Correct variant selected automatically from MES | – | Depends on system | – | Depends on system | |
| Real-time validation of picks and placements | – | – | Picks only | – | VALIDATE and VISION |
| In-process inspection of the product | – | – | – | – | VISION |
| Smart tool enabled only at the correct step | – | Depends on system | – | – | |
| Data per unit: cycle times, errors, torque values | – | Partly | – | Partly | |
| No device worn by the operator | – | ||||
| Guidance adapted to operator experience level | – | Partly | – | Partly |
When each approach fits
Choosing the right approach.
Screen-based work instructions
Digital and easier to update than paper. The operator still has to look away from the work and interpret the screen, and actions are not validated.
Pick-to-light
Effective for confirming which bin to pick from. It does not guide the assembly itself or verify placement, orientation or tool use.
Wearable AR
Places information in the operator's view, but requires a headset or glasses per person, with charging, hygiene and comfort considerations over a full shift.
The difference
Arkite is not a projector, a screen or a light. It is the execution layer that guides, validates and records manual work, connected to the systems you already run.
Questions about choosing an approach.
How is Arkite different from digital work instruction software?
Digital work instruction software shows the steps on a screen. Arkite also projects the steps onto the work surface, validates each pick, placement and tool action in real time with 3D sensing (Arkite VALIDATE), can inspect the product during assembly (Arkite VISION) and records data per unit. Instructions are authored in a no-code editor and selected automatically per variant through the MES integration.
Is Arkite a pick-to-light system?
No. Arkite can drive DMX lights for picking and kitting, but lights are one indication device inside an Arkite workflow. The platform guides the full assembly process, validates each action with 3D sensing and connects to MES, ERP, PLC and smart tools.
Does Arkite require operators to wear AR glasses?
No. Arkite projects instructions directly onto the workstation, so operators keep both hands free and wear no device. Guidance and validation work for every operator at the station without individual hardware.
Can Arkite replace paper instructions step by step?
Yes. Many deployments start with one pilot workstation running Arkite GUIDE, then add validation and inspection where error risk is highest. The same software core and projects are used as the deployment grows to lines, plants and multiple sites.
See the difference on your own process.
Book a live demo and compare Arkite with your current way of working.