TECHNOLOGY
MCKINSEY
64
Five ways 5G can revolutionise manufacturing
1 . Cloud control of machines – For decades , factory automation has required programmable logic controllers ( PLCs ) that were physically installed on the machines they controlled and hard-wired into computer networks to ensure precise , reliable control under extreme conditions . If 5G consistently meets its performance promises , the PLC could be virtualised in the cloud , enabling machines to be controlled wirelessly and in real time at a fraction of the current cost .
2 . Augmented reality – Factory workers are used to performing complex maintenance and control tasks that are often guided by standard operating procedures in paper manuals , videos or even
SEPTEMBER 2020