The best connectivity solutions for the manufacturing floor

The manufacturing industry is dealing with more demand for its services than ever before. According to a Deloitte analysis,¹ challenges—even the pandemic-–did little to slow the sector down. To maintain their momentum, businesses must embrace trends to stay competitive, including scaling up and modernising at lightning speed.

Among the standards manufacturing companies must modernise is their technology. As digital adoption in recent years accelerated many industries, we’re realising that what used to work before may not be efficient anymore today. An example of this is the classic Wi-Fi technology that we are all familiar with.

While companies need Wi-Fi to be more agile, mobile, and interconnected, issues like spotty wireless signals in plant environments make older connectivity solutions unreliable. 5G looks to provide a solution to some of these barriers and challenges. Wi-Fi 6, on the other hand, has new advancements and capabilities that make it a viable option for companies looking toward the future.

McNeil notes that machinery and environmental challenges could potentially hinder wireless connectivity. The amount of heavy machinery present in one location provides a “hostile world for wireless communication.”²

Additional physical conditions in manufacturing further challenge wireless networks. For example, extreme heat could potentially affect wireless access points, thus impeding the signal transmissions to devices. Another example is the actual layout of a manufacturing site, like high ceilings and storage set up.³

These are just a few things to consider when reassessing your manufacturing company’s needs. An important question to ask is: Are you using the right tools for your team and company to be successful?

5G and Wi-Fi 6 are strong and modern tools that can propel a company’s manufacturing processes. With these innovations, expect to be faster and more efficient, without sacrificing quality. But their capabilities target different areas of production and provide benefits for specific parts of the manufacturing process.

5G allows for reliable connection, without plant environments becoming a potential hindrance to productivity. Its network slicing feature, creating multiple networks on one shared infrastructure, adapts to your company’s specific needs. This allows for a smoother and faster transmission that minimises latency,” which was a drawback with classic Wi-Fi.

Other advantages of 5G for manufacturing include the potential to use robots for the manufacturing process; efficient communication between workers and their machines; tracking for facilities management; and flexibility in terms of setup requirements. It also supports IoT.

In a Thales report on High-speed 5G IoT, they write “5G and IoT is more than just a new generation of wireless technology.”⁵ The 2022 update outlines that the use of 5G for IoT will allow for more speed and bandwidth, less latency, and, most importantly, the support of more devices and connections. “It’s unleashing a massive IoT ecosystem where networks can serve billions of connected devices.”⁵

Wi-Fi 6, on the other hand, works well for smaller, indoor settings and is overall a cheaper alternative for network connectivity. It brings the same level of automation and ease of use to bigger scale operation processes, like factories and big plants.

Other advantages of Wi-Fi 6 for manufacturing include the automation of processes; scaling of automation; and integration with AI, such as Siri or Alexa.

Ideally, the way companies can get the most use out of 5G or Wi-Fi 6 is to use them together, where they apply within the manufacturing process. Larger factories with many physical hindrances could benefit from 5G, while smaller, more device-populated areas could harness Wi-Fi 6’s capabilities. It is, at the end of the day, a balancing act.

 “The technologies are built from the same foundation and will work together to support different things.”⁴

For companies looking to use more IoT in their processes, 5G is a game changer. It provides a more stable and secure connection and has the ability to power complex technologies that exchange data, like self-driving vehicles, smart grids, or AI-enabled robots.⁵

Wi-Fi 6 can meet your requirements for dense industrial deployments. It is also being earmarked as a key element for IoT moving forward. Wi-Fi as we know it could not support IoT mainly because of power consumption and patchy services when in dense areas. Wi-Fi 6 has greatly improved throughput and spectral efficiency, providing better safety typically needed with IoT deployments, compared to traditional Wi-Fi.⁶

For companies who are looking to incorporate either 5G or Wi-Fi 6 into their manufacturing process, strategise the shift for higher efficiency.

Here are three main tips to consider before making the switch:

1. Ensure that any new equipment or technology being brought in is forward-compatible. It must be able to transition to 5G or Wi-Fi 6.⁷
2. Establish a team within your company that will ensure the success of the transition.
3. Choose a service provider that can assess and adapt to your needs.

Singtel Paragon, for example, provides an all-in-one platform for 5G networks, edge computing, and services orchestration. Have the potential to control and oversee your networks all from one place.

5G solutions, on the other hand, tailor fits results that will adapt to the needs of your manufacturing process. For example, Singtel’s partnership with Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center in Singapore provides coverage and leverage for an electric vehicle production facility.

5G is quickly becoming a viable option for manufacturing companies; and when combined with Wi-Fi 6, it can fully leverage production capabilities.

With a 5G provider that allows for tailor-fit solutions, the possibilities are endless.

Contact us to start your transition to a 5G manufacturing environment.

References:

1. Deloitte, 2022 Manufacturing Industry Outlook
2. Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Factories and the challenge of wireless networks, 2021.
3. Cook, What Could Go Wrong with the Wi-Fi and Your Manufacturing Network?, 2019.
4. Rewo, 5G vs. WiFi 6 on the factory floor
5. Thales Group, High-speed 5G IoT - 2022 Update, 2022.
6. Torvmark, Why Wi-Fi 6 Will Be a Key Component to Tomorrow’s IoT, 2021.
7. Tech Guidance, It’s Coming - How to Prepare Your Business for 5G