Tightening a b-nut on a jet engine to the right torque is a safety matter. The mechanic reads the correct value from a manual, sets the wrench, tightens, then records it. Every link in that chain is a separate chance to get it wrong.
What they did
GE Aviation ran a pilot connecting smart glasses to a Wi-Fi enabled torque wrench. The glasses tell the mechanic where a torque wrench is needed; when the wrench starts applying torque it sends the value back to the system, which tells the mechanic immediately whether the fastener is correctly tightened.
The measured result
- An average 8–12% increase in mechanic efficiency while using the glasses
- 85% of the 15 mechanics in the pilot said the system would reduce manufacturing errors
- 60% preferred the wearable to the traditional method
- For one senior mechanic a task took 35 minutes without the glasses and 32 minutes with them
A widely repeated “90% fewer assembly errors” figure appears in no primary source for this case, so it is not in this text.
What it means for a manufacturer
The idea goes a step beyond training: the measuring tool itself talks to the process. The same structure fits any assembly where torque, pressure or moment is critical. In a virtual environment that step is taught more cheaply: the mechanic practises the right order and the right value without touching the real engine.