A smoother ride and streamlined
municipal processes are a few aspects that characterize smart
cities transformed by a 5G network. Productivity and connection,
meanwhile, will be the signs that manufacturing methods have been
swept up by the digital tide. Production downtime has always been a
profit drain for manufacturers, and nearly any solution that can
keep assembly lines up and running will boost the bottom
line.
Smart Machines
One of the best ways to combat
machine downtime is to ensure your components don't break in the
first place. By designing machines with built-in alert capabilities
that notify technicians when their time for maintenance has come,
engineers have reduced component breakdown — and they've plugged in
the IoT to do it. Where legacy systems once required periodic
checkups to make sure they were running well, smart machines can
monitor their own performance, even diagnosing
themselves.
Of course, such self-awareness
is impossible for machines to achieve without a connection to a
network that can support it. The reliability of 5G internet enables
machines to monitor their own processes in real-time without
interruption so that they can receive continuous input on their own
operations. This lets them send prompt notifications to technicians
when repairs are needed. The presence of sensors across multiple
machine components enables them to convey information about the
problem so that technicians can find the fix
faster.
Whether it's consistent
prophylactic maintenance or self-diagnosis, 5G internet has
empowered machines on the assembly line to join the IoT, reducing
downtime and saving companies millions.
A Connected Workforce
Another sign of transformation
from the 5G revolution is the connectivity of its workforce — both
to each other and the IoT.
Through
remote support services
empowered by wearable tech like
Smartglasses and augmented reality devices (AR), technicians on the
manufacturing floor find themselves linked to the broader IoT
world.
This gives them a few
advantages, namely:
- Machine
insights: With immediate access
to component blueprints and specs, technicians have all the
knowledge they need at the tip of their fingers. This enables them
to fix their machines faster, further reducing costly
downtime.
- Third-party
access: Even with extra
information made available to them, sometimes supplier feedback is
a must. Rather than arranging a flight to bring in a
representative, component suppliers can be transferred virtually to
the factory floor the moment they don their AR
gear.
- Clear
communication: Even when
suppliers are consulted, obstacles like language barriers can slow
the process down. The real-time translation ability of AR devices
clarifies communication between all parties. It can also bring in
as many team members as it takes to fix the problem
quickly.
The Future of Industrial IoT
The advantages that AR tech
brings to the factory floor are innumerable, but without 5G,
they're also impossible. Transmitting real-time component data to
an AR device requires negligible latency if it's to be done on a
massive scale, especially if translation with a supplier
representative is needed. Not only that, but the kind of network
reliability required for onsite web access in some industries
demands the stability that only 5G technology can provide. Between
its speed, reliability, and strength, 5G internet is the best way
for industries to implement the productivity advancements that the
IoT has brought forth.