Welcome to the smart factory
The fourth industrial revolution has arrived, and it will transform manufacturing as we know it.
Industry 4.0 is merging operational, information and communication technologies with cyber-physical systems, enabled by advanced wireless communication and Industrial Internet of things (IoT) services. Manufacturing companies are betting on 5G to deliver ultra low latency, high bandwith and reliable communication to realize the smart factory.
In order to prove business value and ensure 5G meets real industry requirements, three Ericsson factories in Sweden, Estonia and China are fast-tracking the introduction of a new generation of smart manufacturing. Developing and implementing the first 5G and Industrial IoT systems in a real manufacturing environment allows this new wave of tech enablers to reach maturity more rapidly, ready to change the world.
The 5G factory
At the heart of the Ericsson HQ campus in Sweden sits a perfect inventor's playground, where engineers and innovators are shaping the future of manufacturing in Ericsson's own '5G factory'. As the site that produces test beds for 5G and ships them across the globe, it is the ideal environment to trial new 5G and Industrial IoT innovations in a real production environment, such as precise localization technology.
This uses low-power tags to transmit real-time location data to the cloud. They can be placed on anything, giving decision makers complete visibility of any object and machine they want to keep track of. This enables true digital twins for traceability of inventory, reducing loss of assets and ultimately improving end-to-end efficiency.
The digital factory
Estonia has a uniquely innovative culture, and Ericsson is one of its largest employers. The spirit of technological innovation is at the core of Estonian identity, and this is more than evident in the Ericsson Tallinn smart factory, which accounts for more than 10 percent of Estonia's exports today.
Discover how an innovation-driven workforce empowers Ericsson's production capabilities, and fosters the introduction of new smart manufacturing technologies. These include the introduction of a cutting-edge augmented reality troubleshooting solution, that has already more than doubled the team's effectiveness.
Through cellular connectivity, almost every asset in a factory can be connected and managed to solve operational challenges. Read how we’re enabling more efficient and sustainable production processes in Tallinn.
5G-Smart-Factories-Nanjing
The Ericsson smart factory in Nanjing only stops production of the latest radio base stations one day of the year – Chinese New Year.
Every other day, the factory harnesses the data generated through connecting everything from screwdrivers to entire warehousing systems with Industrial IoT and NB IoT. This has enabled the Nanjing factory to dramatically improve efficiency by tracking actual use of tools and dispatching services and maintenance accordingly.