Virtual Lab Design and Training at Merck

Merck, a global leader in healthcare with a rich 125-year history and over 71,000 employees worldwide, is headquartered in Rahway, New Jersey. The company is dedicated to discovering new treatments and preventive measures for both human and animal health. As part of their ongoing efforts, Merck was in the planning stages for a new state-of-the-art laboratory and required innovative solutions to ensure the effectiveness of their new facility and equipment.

The challenge Merck faced was to validate the design of their laboratory and pharmaceutical equipment before the actual construction began. The objective was to confirm that the proposed floor plan and equipment setup would meet the needs of the research and development team, thereby minimizing costly rework and ensuring that the final build would be effective for scientific work. To achieve this, Merck sought a solution that would allow for detailed evaluation and feedback on their designs prior to physical construction.

Merck collaborated with Invonto, a technology solutions provider, to develop a cutting-edge virtual reality (VR) application tailored to their needs. This VR application was designed to offer a detailed simulation of the laboratory environment and the proposed equipment. Invonto's team worked closely with Merck’s stakeholders to understand the architectural blueprints and scientific processes involved. They created high-quality 3D models of the lab’s layout, equipment, fixtures, and tools, ensuring that the VR environment was as realistic as possible.

The VR experience was developed for the Oculus Quest headset and featured interactive elements that allowed users to simulate the use of lab equipment and navigate the lab space as they would in the real world. The VR app provided an immersive platform for stakeholders to interact with the lab’s design, evaluate its functionality, and provide feedback. This iterative approach involved presenting the VR simulation to Merck’s team at various stages of development to gather input and make necessary adjustments.

The results of this VR initiative were highly successful. The simulation enabled Merck to collect valuable feedback on the lab’s design and scientific workflows before actual construction began. This proactive approach identified a range of issues and improvements, which were addressed to refine the lab’s plans and equipment. Remarkably, the VR app achieved these outcomes at less than 2% of the total capital project cost, demonstrating its cost-effectiveness. Beyond the planning phase, the VR application will serve as a tool for training new employees, offering a safe, cost-efficient, and effective learning environment for understanding scientific processes and lab operations.