Edge Networks Help Transform Manufacturing in 2021 and Beyond

By Vikram Anand

Digitizing manufacturing has been a consistent focus area in the manufacturing space over the past few years as part of Industry 4.0, but the recent challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of advanced technologies, like robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud, and automation for more agile, efficient, and sustainable manufacturing. Forward-looking manufacturing organizations such as Apollo Tires or Mahindra & Mahindra were able to continue their operations without any disruption thanks to their early move towards robotics and other technologies collectively referred to as Industry 4.0.

Industry 4.0 capabilities allowed such companies to monitor the health of their machines remotely, and in some cases, even get minor fixes completed, helping manage several processes in a complete remote fashion. Network automation, on the other hand, with the help of robots and other advanced applications, reduced their dependency on labor, making the working environment safer and less prone to disruption. Other than business continuity, the move towards remote working has also allowed industrial firms to access talents that, until now, were reluctant to work at manufacturing sites in remote parts of the country. However, for these companies to usher into the next phase of manufacturing, they will have to beef up their network and technology infrastructure.

As per a Statista study, there will be 21.5 billion connected Internet of Things (IoT) devices worldwide by 2025, a large part of which could make up the future factories as we know it. The network, therefore, will play a significant role in enabling this future and extracting maximum value out of these intelligent deployments.

Unleashing New Opportunities with Private 5G

5G is likely to be the tipping point in the manufacturing sector, bringing the most significant transformation since the Industrial revolution nearly 200 years ago. For example, a modern factory powered by Private 5G can enable secure near real-time access to machines from virtually any location, allowing operators not just to monitor, but also actively operate the machines remotely.

Moreover, machine operators would be able to perform inspections of hazardous areas, create digital twins and carry payloads. This requires a robust network infrastructure that offers extremely low latency, is secure, and doesn't add too much to the IT costs, given that companies are already stressed with cost pressures right now.

Another challenge that manufacturers face is that of latency. Take for instance robotic motion control process, which typically has a 2ms cycle time and a requirement of an extremely low error rate. Latency becomes even more critical in many such processes, especially when these robots are working alongside humans. Furthermore, any error or delay could become a safety hazard for human workers. Therefore, near real-time network access is of paramount importance for the success of future factories.

Giving the network an Edge

Despite the enormous potential that Industry 4.0 holds, the ultimate success will depend on a reliable and robust Network. Edge Computing implementations break the dependence on distant data centers and use local resources to transfer data efficiently. It also leverages cloud infrastructure to maximize the use of the hardware that you already have. By getting compute much closer to where it is actually required, Edge Computing, combined with Public and Private 5G, makes the network extremely fast and near real-time, cutting down on latency by leaps and bounds.

Edge Computing also solves the challenge of real-time data analysis, with effective decision making based on fast data processing which was impossible to do from a centralized data center. Transferring terabytes of data for real-time analysis will most certainly choke your network and may not deliver the desired result.

However, by allowing compute at the Edge, most of this analysis can be done close to the source of data itself, and only a small fraction of it is then required to be sent to the central data center for further processing, allowing machines to make real-time decisions and pattern recognition improving response time and unlocking the hidden value of data

Finally, since we no longer need to send a large amount of data to the central data center, companies can also substantially save on their data storage & bandwidth costs

Industry 4.0 offers opportunities for manufacturing firms to use digital tools to transform their operations for greater efficiencies. It can even allow smaller companies to compete for head-on with large ones. However, without the power of 5G and Edge Computing, realizing this dream could be longer, and also more complex, and one may never be able to gain from the full potential that the technology holds.

So, as we usher into the new era of manufacturing, we should embrace a new way to construct the network by adopting 5G and Edge Computing, adaptive and scalable networks that are backed by advanced AI systems & intelligent network automation.

Vikram Anand is the Senior Sales Director at Ciena India