Benefits of Private 5G in Manufacturing
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5G is being used for everything from powering heavy machines to enabling AI technologies. And 5G is expected to grow global manufacturing GDP to $740 billion by 2030. The growth is mainly attributed to increasing industrial automation, improving computing power, and allowing manufacturers to seamlessly leverage big data, AI, and IoT. All this is due to changes in how industries operate.
In short, private 5G in manufacturing walks so that AI and other digitised industrial possibilities can fly. Lower latency, higher capacity, more access to data, and better machine learning algorithms are some advantages of private 5G in manufacturing.
In this article, you’ll learn more about the benefits of 5G in the manufacturing industry and how small, mid-sized, and enterprise businesses can leverage 5G for better industrial workflow. Plus, a cherry on the cake – you’ll get straight-to-the-point tips on how to set up private 5G for manufacturers, so be sure to stick around.
Why Do You Need a Private 5G Network for Your Manufacturing
Businesses need private 5G for manufacturing, as it’s currently the surest and fastest way to seamlessly power operations and fully automate complex tasks in key moments that matter. Private 5G improves an overall workflow and productivity, but what other real value does it offer? Why is private 5G in the manufacturing industry growing in importance the way it is?
These 5 reasons should offer some clarity, regardless of the company size, as to why manufacturers require private 5G to take their business to the next level.
1. Digitise manufacturing processes at scale
Think of a private 5G network for manufacturing as the GPS to get your industrial processes going. Manual operations of industrial equipment are being phased out, but many manufacturers still aren’t maximising their machines to their fullest capacities. Why rely on wired networks with thousands of cable feet, numerous signal repeaters, and plenty of confusing switches?
With a private 5G network, it's easy for manufacturers to bypass unnecessary complexities while providing ultra-reliable network services.
2. Get wider coverage
Poor networks and lost connections are a modern-day manufacturing nightmare. Owning a private 5G network facilitates consistent communications from machine to machine, machine to sensor, staff to machine, and vice versa across several thousands of square feet. When expertly deployed, private 5G combines multiple bands to provide fast and wide coverage.
3. Low latency
Private 5G features ultra-low latency capabilities, with its round-trip transmission taking less than 5 milliseconds. This latency is way faster than human visual processing, and this opens a whole new realm of IoT and machine-machine communication. In the manufacturing industry, 5G’s speed and minimal lag are perfect for augmented reality (VR) and virtual reality (VR) applications.
4. Increased Bandwidth
Speed is exciting, but one of the questions in the minds of manufacturing product managers and analysts is this: how will 5G help manufacturers scale their tech initiatives? Private 5G networks can transmit large amounts of data, and even if network traffic/ data usage spikes, there’s no problem. For industrial businesses, more data means more insight and actionable knowledge into production, customers, and suppliers.
5. High security
Despite headlines, 5G’s security landscape is not all doom and gloom. With the continued rise of Industry 4.0, telecom processes, operational technology (OT), and information technology (IT) converge, increasing the risk of cyber crimes. However, with a private 5G network in manufacturing, there are significantly reduced chances of unauthorised access and external interference.
Benefits of Private 5G in Manufacturing
You would be missing out on a lot of advantages if your manufacturing business hasn’t deployed private 5G yet. Here are the benefits of private 5G for manufacturing to look out for:
1. Automated quality control
Quality control is a massive part of manufacturing factories’ industrial procedures and a critical component that strives for automation. Poor quality control results in huge losses, with the cost of handling poor-quality products ranging between 5% and 30% of gross sales. This is especially true for manufacturing niche verticals where heavy machines, sensors, and AI products are the main actors of production.
The 5G network is the best bet for powering a range of industrial technologies used in manufacturing, such as 4K cameras, sensors that send data to AI and ML systems, VR/AR, and inspection robots. This is possible, thanks to 5G’s high bandwidth.
What will you get?
- Increased first-pass yield.
- Significantly reduced scrap rate.
- Real-time automated customer feedback.
- Monitoring of a supplier defect rate.
- Manageable supplier chargebacks.
- Production improvements.
2. Real-time predictive maintenance and production monitoring
Many elements go into the delicate process of manufacturing. During production, even small details, such as machine part alignment, can have large adverse outcomes. Private 5G’s high bandwidth and low latency features are game changers during production. Manufacturers can connect numerous production devices per km², with continuous communication between sensors.
From real-time predictive maintenance to monitoring the performance of specific machine parts, private 5G for manufacturers can unlock bottom-line improving possibilities. And the outcome? A reduced cost of production, less wastage, reduced machinery downtime, and reduced maintenance cost.
3. Revolution in factory automation
Factory automation, a critical part of manufacturing, has undergone significant metamorphosis with immersive solutions like 5G. Typically, deploying private 5G makes advanced industrial operations a dream rather than a nightmare.
Drones and robots can seamlessly operate and complete complex, multiple tasks with minimal human input. This saves time for human workers to perform skilled work and improves efficiency. In addition, private 5G is reliable for remote operations, and in the foreseeable future, manufacturers can adopt the ‘dark factories’ concept, where entire production lines are automated and lighting isn’t needed, thereby saving up energy costs.
4. Enhanced productivity
Imagine simplifying complex tasks and fostering human-to-machine interactions. Manufacturing employees can save time on repetitive work, have better job satisfaction, and discover their full potential. With 5G’s fast connection, the human-robot relationship is smart, safe, and seamless. Private 5G’s reliable connectivity also fosters industrial planning and scheduling for the highest possible productivity.
5. Intelligent analytics
With private 5G’s enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), many potentials are unlocked: ultra HD video streaming and AR/ VR analytics are among them. Regardless of the ageing workforce, these advanced connectivity solutions decentralise expertise and ensure interactive training.
6. Workers safety
While manufacturing is heavily regulated to ensure all-round safety, accidents are still pretty common. UK’s HSE reports that 1.8 million workers suffered work-related injuries in the past year, leading to an estimated loss of 7.6 billion pounds and over 30 million lost working days.
However, with the digitisation of the manufacturing industry and introduction of robots and autonomous machines, humans can be relieved of high-risk industrial tasks. 5G’s role here is to augment safety measures, even in the face of more work complexity. For example, high-definition cameras plus ML can provide real-time feeds of the production line, highlighting patterns that can predispose to accidents on the factory floor.
7. Better inventory management and demand forecasting
The manufacturing industry often struggles with too little or too much stock, leading to billions in lost revenue. With real-time network connectivity enabled by private 5G, manufacturers can accurately predict demand, adjust stock levels, and manage inventory across a complex global supply chain.
The above list is by no means exhaustive. When done right, private 5G is a fruitful endeavour for manufacturing companies with a long list of benefits.
How Do You Set Up Private 5G for Manufacturers
Setting up a private 5G in a manufacturing site is relatively easy if you hire an expert private 5G vendor like UCtel. Here is how the process will look like, no matter the size of your factory:
- Planning. It involves identifying the factory’s network challenges, requirements, and scope of usage.
- Network design and technical map out
- Soft installation and test-running
- Final Installation
- Implementation system turn-up
- Integration with the already existing system
- Post-deployment testing
- Troubleshooting and maintenance
Consider UCtel as Your Trusted Partner for the Installation of Private 5G for Manufacturing
Considering the benefits of 5G in manufacturing, it’s no wonder the majority of executives believe a private 5G network could give their companies a competitive advantage.
At UCtel, our certified consultants will help you make the most of private 5G and your automated solutions. We have over 20 years of experience in telco industry and can easily fix and set up your mobile network. Our private 5G offerings align with our constant eagerness to keep up with the latest technological advancements and ensure we deliver the best solutions for our clients’ ever-growing network needs. We work with manufacturing companies to salvage their dying network situation and transform how they do business.
Don’t miss out on exciting possibilities with private 5G. To learn more, get in touch with UCtel today!
