This post originally appeared on the Louisiana Technology Park blog.
Two Louisiana Technology Park members are helping ExxonMobil develop virtual reality training modules for its recently announced facility expansion at its Baton Rouge polyolefins plant.
Tech Park-based video game developers Pixel Dash and King Crow Studios, along with Thibodaux-based 3D Media, will be part of the team supporting the training initiative for ExxonMobil’s planned polypropylene project, which is scheduled to start production in 2021.
The connection was facilitated by Louisiana Economic Development’s FastStart program, which provides customized employee recruitment, screening, training development and training delivery for eligible, new or expanding companies — all at no cost.
Through an augmented-reality tool, trainees experience a virtual environment that mimics the real one, which lets them safely go through maintenance tasks until they’ve mastered them. The emerging technology will help employees safely meet performance requirements.
Forging a Partnership
Spokeswoman Stephanie Cargile says ExxonMobil is in the midst of a transformation of its manufacturing operations. She says company leadership identified the Baton Rouge polypropylene project as an opportunity to focus on technology strengths.
“Our goals were to position and showcase our high-tech capabilities and support those local vendors through the project,” Cargile says.
To facilitate connections with area technology firms, ExxonMobil turned to the FastStart program, which identified the three VR developers. ExxonMobil is also partnering with Baton Rouge Community College to support a virtual reality training lab where students can be trained on process technology and industry-related scenarios.