Mariasteen’s XR training transformation: inclusive CNC onboarding

Nov 04, 2025

people
augmented reality

At Mariasteen, inclusion is more than a slogan. The social enterprise wanted every CNC operator, regardless of background, experience, or ability, to learn with confidence. Together with delaware, they are bringing that vision to life through SmartSkills, an XR-powered learning platform that turns complex technical procedures into hands-on, visual experiences. (Reading time: 4 minutes)

Challenge

Traditional training methods at Mariasteen created barriers for workers with varying technical backgrounds and learning abilities.

Solution

SmartSkills delivers on-demand, step-by-step in-structions through AR and XR glasses, with hands-free operation and built-in support.

Results

Training is expected to become faster, more consistent, and more inclusive. Operators gain confidence, while error rates are expected to drop significantly.

Challenge

Mariasteen operates at the intersection of high precision and high purpose. Their CNC department handles complex metalwork with strict quality requirements. At the same time, they provide meaningful employment for individuals who often need tailored support. “Some of our people have never worked in production before,” says An Defossez, Head of the Workplace Methods Team at Mariasteen. “Others lack the confidence to handle technical setups. Paper instructions are often too abstract or over-whelming."

To better understand the training challenge, consider these realities on the ground:

More than 30 unique CNC machine setups, each with specific user requirements.
High stakes in each step: one mistake can damage expensive materials or delay delivery.

Traditional work instructions are still mostly paper-based, static, and hard to interpret.
Employees work at different speeds and have varying preferred ways of learning.
Supervisors and technical profiles are stretched thin due to staffing shortages.

As a result, Mariasteen needed a way to scale onboarding while making sure every employee felt competent, confident and supported.

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With SmartSkills, people learn to handle complex tasks at their own pace. That sense of confidence is what really changes things.

An Defossez, Head of the Workplace Methods Team at Mariasteen

Solution

When the workplace methods team began exploring solutions for scaling training across their CNC operations, they weren’t looking for a quick fix. They needed a partner who could think along with them and who understood both the technical complexity of CNC work and the human diversity of their workforce.

“We don't innovate for innovation’s sake,” adds An. “We were looking for a structured way to transfer knowledge without overwhelming people. delaware stood out because they listened, challenged, and co-created the right solution with us.”

That collaboration led to the implementation and continued development of SmartSkills, a learning platform designed for inclusion, scalability, and adaptability. Together, Mariasteen and delaware focused on:

Strategic alignment: defining where structured digital training has the greatest impact, starting with recurring CNC procedures.
Content ownership: enabling Mariasteen’s own team to create and update training modules them-selves.
Accessibility-first design: simplifying the interface and offering alternative navigation options for em-ployees with diverse needs.

“We didn’t arrive with a pre-defined answer,” says Sven De Hauwere, Mixed Reality Developer at delaware. “Instead, we’re translating training challenges into a scalable digital roadmap together.”

We translate technical complexity into visual, simple workflows that give people confidence. That’s the impact we aim for in every inclusive tech project.

Sven De Hauwere, Mixed Reality Developer at delaware

What did we do?

Simplify the system for everyday use

Together, we tailored SmartSkills to fit Mariasteen’s workforce. The interface was simplified so operators can navigate it intuitively, with clear visual cues, audio prompts, and straightforward controls. The goal was to keep attention on the work itself, not the technology.

Empower Mariasteen’s team to build content

Instead of delivering a finished product, delaware worked side by side with the workplace methods team to show them how to create and refine their own procedures. This gives Mariasteen full ownership of their training content and removes the need for external updates.

Test across devices and departments

To ensure flexibility, SmartSkills was tested on XR glasses, tablets, and PCs. This allows operators to choose the setup that best fits their comfort level, safety requirements, and environment.

Zoom out: SmartSkills - designed for inclusion, ready for scale

SmartSkills is more than a training platform. It is a framework for capturing and sharing operational knowledge in an accessible, visual, and modular way. Its authoring tools allow teams to combine text, images, and video into dynamic workflows. These now also include interactive 3D models with annotations and animations that users can create and adapt themselves.

Through XR glasses, these workflows come to life. Instead of interpreting abstract manuals, operators see each step directly on the machine in front of them. Built-in validation ensures accuracy, and remote support is always available when needed.

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Results

Mariasteen and delaware are still co-developing and testing SmartSkills in an active production environment. The teams are learning from each pilot and refining the platform based on feedback from operators and supervisors.

Early observations are encouraging:

Employees show greater engagement during training sessions and pilot tests
Operators who found paper manuals challenging are responding well to visual, hands-free guidance
Confidence is growing as people become more comfortable handling setup tasks independently

These signals point to the broader potential of SmartSkills: making learning more intuitive, accessible, and empowering for everyone on the shop floor. “We see real potential here,” says An. “Each test brings us closer to a tool that fits our people, not the other way around.”

Mariasteen & delaware

Mariasteen wants to provide sustainable, safe, and rewarding employment to people with limited access to the labor market. The partnership between Mariasteen and delaware is grounded in a shared belief that technology should empower people first. It’s not about fixing isolated problems, but about co-creating solutions that make daily work more accessible, confident, and rewarding.

“We had little to no experience with XR,” says An. “delaware is guiding us through every step and helping us translate our reality into something that truly works for our people.”

“Mariasteen challenges us to think differently,” adds Sven. “We’re constantly balancing technical precision with empathy and simplicity. That’s what makes this collaboration so valuable.”