Smart factories are connected factories
The drive to greater efficiency, flexibility, and productivity with less waste needs highly reliable,
low latency IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) connectivity.
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The connected factory of tomorrow
Automation is not new. Robots
have been deployed in factories for decades. What sets the smart factory apart is that it is a
hybrid cyber-physical system that drives previously unattainable levels of productivity, efficiency,
sustainability, and flexibility.
The smart factory is a connected factory
Smart factories are not a collection of
unconnected machines. They are an integrated whole with two-way communications. Data coming from
the factory floor is analyzed and used to control the machines. And some of those machines are on
the move. Wires don’t cut it.
Reliability is essential and low latency is key
If the data flow is interrupted autonomous
machines shut down and production stops. With autonomous machines requiring real-time control smart
factories have often relied on wired connections. Wi-Fi just doesn’t offer the performance needed to
support critical real-time IIoT. In environments where humans and machines interact, low latency is
a vital safety feature. Machines that can injure humans need to stop in real-time.
Ericsson Private 5G offers a better way to connect the smart factory.
Delivering results for factories
Autonomous machines and cobots
Ericsson Private 5G provides the
reliable, low latency connections demanded by autonomous machines.
Predictive maintenance
Data collection and analytics makes
repairs before failure possible.
Agile factories
Reliable, secure, high-speed connectivity is required
to remotely control heavy equipment.
Data-driven execution
Smart factories are changing the
way products get made. The shift is dramatic enough to be called “Industry 4.0,” the fourth industrial revolution.
When you step into the newest smart factory, it looks much like any factory built in the last 30 years. A large,
well-lit space, rows of machines, people here and there.
What makes the smart factory different is what you can’t see. An invisible web of connections tying together machines, people, and analytics. The factory is no longer a collection
of completely separate machines. It is an integrated whole, with each machine, each process, optimized for peak
performance. Smart factories typically work on three levels:
Data acquisition
Smart factories are data driven. Data acquired from different kinds of sensors is transferred for
processing via IIoT connectivity.
Data analysis
AI and machine learning are often used to optimize processes.
Intelligent factory automation
Autonomous machines and collaborative robots (cobots) can be remotely controlled in real time.
Continued learning
Ericsson Enterprise Wireless is an Industry 4.0 pioneer. We have 5G factories around the globe that give us an ideal
environment to trial new technologies in real working production environments. Learn about how manufacturing automation,
robots, and IoT are evolving in the private 5G era.
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Related resources
Different solutions for different use cases
Different environments and use cases call for different technical solutions. Ericsson has the broadest portfolio.
Learn more about Enterprise 5G
Fast, flexible, and scalable
Reliable, secure wireless connectivity throughout the factory.
Learn more about Private 5G
Meet demanding IIoT performance requirements
IIoT requires high reliability and in many use cases low latency and high bandwidth. Ericsson Private 5G can get
you there.
Learn more about IoT solutions
