Sanofi, the Paris-based pharmaceutical group, deployed Microsoft HoloLens 2 smart glasses at its Lisieux manufacturing facility in Normandy to transform how operators are trained on complex batch change procedures. The initiative, documented in September 2023, forms part of what Sanofi describes as its industrial metaverse strategy — a broader effort to apply mixed reality to operational workflows across its global manufacturing network.
At the core of the Lisieux deployment are two Microsoft applications: Dynamics 365 Guides, which delivers step-by-step holographic instructions overlaid on physical equipment, and Dynamics 365 Remote Assist, which enables operators to share their field of view with remote specialists during troubleshooting. Together they allow new production staff to follow standardized procedures while their supervisors or international colleagues coach them in real time.
The results at Lisieux have been measurable. Training time for new operators on batch change operations fell from eight weeks to six, eliminating a two-week tutor-led period and freeing experienced staff for other work. The consistency of holographic instructions also reduces the risk of procedural variation between individual operators — a critical concern in pharmaceutical manufacturing, where deviations from validated processes can have quality and regulatory consequences.
Sanofi intends to standardize the HoloLens 2 programme and deploy it globally across its manufacturing sites, building on the Lisieux pilot as a proven model.
