Mars Wrigley: The Multi-Million Dollar Impact of VR Training

Mars Wrigley, one of the world’s largest food manufacturers, faced significant challenges in their gum production operations: increasing output, improving efficiency, and reducing employee training time. The solution? Virtual Reality.

In this episode, we explore how Mars Wrigley revolutionized its training program using VR, cutting training time in half and boosting output by 45%. Faced with the challenge of onboarding 200 operators in just six months, Mars Wrigley partnered with Futurus and ArborXR to create an immersive learning experience.

The VR solution standardized training, improved retention, and delivered measurable results, including a $19 million business impact and 200,000 additional cases of gum in seven months.

Join us as we discuss how this innovative approach is shaping the future of workforce development and scaling across global operations.

Timestamps:

• Mars Wrigley’s start in VR Technology (00:47)
• Mars Wrigley’s Reduction in Training and What It Looks Like (04:30)
• Employee’s Response to VR Training (09:52)
• Why VR over Other Training Options (13:50)
• The Secret of Mars Wrigley’s $20 Million in Savings (21:42)
• The Economics of Implementing VR Training (24:48)
• The Benefit of Experienced ISVs (29:12)
• The Challenges of XR Deployment and Arbor’s Assistance (32:14)
• Advice for Future XR Deployers (37:45)

About Josh McCrary: As the Training Coordinator at Mars Wrigley, Josh oversees VR training initiatives across multiple facilities, managing modules that streamline onboarding and upskilling for employees. With hands-on experience training operators both traditionally and with VR, Josh focuses on optimizing processes to boost efficiency and reduce downtime. His leadership has been instrumental in scaling Mars Wrigley VR training programs nationwide.

About Lauren Rucker: Lauren Rucker is the Training Lead for Mars Wrigley’s stick packaging operations, designing and implementing modules that have successfully onboarded over 200 employees. With a background in education and instructional design, Lauren aligns training strategies with corporate goals, ensuring effective skill development.

About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com.

Links & Resources:

• Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-rucker/
• Connect with Brad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-scoggin/
• Connect with Will on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willstackable/