Private 5G and edge computing: a perfect match for manufacturing

Private 5G is the next evolution of networks for mission-critical applications in factories, logistics centers and hospitals. In fact, any environment that requires reliability, security and speed of wired connectivity combined with the movement of people, objects and data.

The mobile element is often a factor in Industry 4.0 digital transformation, and this is where private 5G shines.

Private 5G deployments are an extension of your organization’s wide area network. It’s fast, secure, reliable, and low-latency. You can rely on it to move data. But if you don’t have an edge computing resource to collect data and create actionable intelligence in real time, you’re missing out on revolutionary possibilities.

Edge computing unlocks the true potential of private 5G

Combining managed private 5G with managed edge computing enables businesses to analyze what’s happening in the moment – ​​no longer waiting for data to be collected (often a slow process) and sent to a data center for processing first.

In manufacturing, this combined platform approach can quickly deliver the right information to where decisions must be made: on the factory floor. This means everything from incremental improvements in productivity and quality to greater flexibility and customization.

Organizations must also control data sovereignty, ownership and location. Private 5G can protect data by ensuring all traffic remains local.

While private 5G is a powerful tool, the use cases make it exciting

If you switch to private 5G, it helps avoid the proliferation of Wi-Fi access points as well as monitoring blind spots because asset-based sensors can quickly collect and transmit large amounts of data and we can achieve indoor positioning accuracy of less than one meter.

It was also a simpler exercise to reconfigure the connections between devices and improve the timing and synchronization of data feeds from sensors.

Last year, Cisco's Strategic Executive Office collaborated with Deloitte on a private 5G study called "Vertical Use Cases Offer Development," which delved into the main applications of private 5G through use cases.

They found that the highest demand for private 5G was in the manufacturing, logistics, and government industries. Their findings align with our experience, as these are the industries with the highest demand for NTT private 5G and edge-as-a-service.

Moving from broad topics to specific applications

The study identified four themes: enabling hybrid connectivity; activation and policy setting of various sensor profiles; advanced intelligence with private 5G and edge computing stacks; and integrated applications and infrastructure to achieve business outcomes.

NTT's experience has taught us that these themes can be translated into five main application areas:

1. Group wireless communication (push-to-talk) enables employees to communicate across locations and perform real-time location tracking.

2. Private 5G supports augmented reality and virtual reality, supporting self-service, work assistance and remote assistance functions.

3. Private 5G enables real-time connection and control of automated guided vehicles.

4. Computer vision for automated video surveillance, inspection, and guidance is faster and more efficient on dedicated 5G networks.

5. Connected devices can remain reliably and securely connected to the corporate network throughout their entire shift without relying on Wi-Fi or portable hotspots.

Explore the impact of 5G on manufacturing

The study also explores how private 5G can optimize assets and processes in manufacturing, assembly, testing, and storage facilities. Private 5G allows for faster and more precise asset tracking, system monitoring, and real-time planning and process optimization using location and event data from sensors and factory systems.

The study provides two examples of private 5G use cases in factories:

• Factory asset intelligence: Traceability from parts to products, adding sensor support at manufacturing, assembly and testing sites
• Dynamic Factory Scheduling: Enable closed-loop control and safety applications through real-time actuation, sensor fusion, and dynamic process scheduling.

As we continue to explore the potential of private 5G, it’s clear that this technology has the power to transform manufacturing and pave the way for a more efficient and effective future.