How Does the Future of Smart Manufacturing Look Like?
Published on : Wednesday 08-04-2020
Advances in new-age technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning have led to the creation of a wide range of applications for manufacturing. In the industry, the evolution of these technologies is putting a vast impact, transforming IT infrastructure. Since manufacturing companies increasingly use a broad range of IoT devices including cameras, sensors, robots, and videos that produce massive volumes of data, manufacturers are now preferring edge computing over data centers for data-related operations.
There are a lot of data in the manufacturing sector which can be modified. But due to the lack of appropriate solutions, companies are not able to take out data properly to process it for modern data mining and warehousing. But some smart manufacturers are incorporating IT (Information Technology) and OT (Operational Technology) to deliver vital applications to consumers. This paves an industry-standard ecosystem that servers as the spine for manufacturing companies. And the convergence of IT and OT is integral as it enables them to improve their workload management, driving several crucial benefits for smart factories.
As the manufacturing sector is at the forefront of digital transformation, companies are using emerging technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality, 3D printing and most recently developed digital twin technology, to drive innovation at the production floor and to become smarter. Creating smart factories for the future, manufacturers need to interpret machine-to-machine and machine-to-human communications that are particularly imperative during mass production.
How 5G is Powering Smart Manufacturing?
Since the previous mobile networks, be it 2G, 3G or 4G, mostly benefited consumers, the evolution of 5G networks are expected to benefit most at the industrial level. Its faster speeds, lower latency, large bandwidth and edge computing capabilities will largely bring transformation at factory floors, delivering real-time information from production to suppliers.
The fourth Industrial Revolution has already driven factories to be smarter. In these futuristic factories, connected devices can detect their environments and interoperate with each other, which will make decentralized decisions. However, many anticipate this transformation to rely heavily on the promises 5G networks have.
5G networks offer manufacturing companies as well as telecom operators the opportunity to develop smart factories by taking advantage of technologies like AI, automation, augmented reality and the Internet of Things (IoT). It will allow manufacturers to drive more functionality closer to the edge of the network.
By utilizing 5G, operators will get the ability to create new revenue streams. In this way, the manufacturing sector represents one of the most vital areas for new revenue potential where operators will address industry digitalization using 5G technologies. According to the Ericsson estimations, the expected addressable market will be USD113 billion in 2026, with a substantial 7 percent potential revenue growth from current service revenue forecasts.
5G technology will also assist manufacturers in managing vast amounts of data and information they collect from connected and smart IoT devices. Its speeds and capacity will help companies to connect more sensors, devices and assets through a single network which will provide them better visibility into the supply chain.
In short, we believe building smart manufacturing; companies must implement various advanced technologies in a production process directly. They also must continuously be investing and exploring new areas of technology to seize benefits throughout the implementation process. And in the end, while smart factories are built around data, considering cybersecurity will also play an integral role in the entire ecosystem of smart manufacturing.