5G technology application in manufacturing systems

The fifth generation of Mobile Wireless Communication, the so-called 5G, is expected to introduce relevant changes in many aspects of the people's lifestyle, as well as new possibilities for the economic and social environment. eMBB (enhanced Mobile Broadband), MTC (Machine-Type Communications) and URLLC (Ultra-Reliable Low Latency) are the core aspects of the 5G, ensuring mobile communications to be smarter, faster, and more efficient than previously. In the manufacturing sectors, 5G could support applications in several fields, from the maintenance and quality to logistics, enhancing the utilisation of augmented and virtual reality, cloud robotics and artificial intelligence. The aim of this paper is to present the current 5G technological context, trying to clarify some fundamental aspects of 5G's applications, advantages and disadvantages, focusing mainly on manufacturing and supply chain. 5G's characteristics and services have been thoroughly analysed in order to highlight the potentialities offered by the implementation of such technology and some real industrial applications, collected by interviews in four Italian manufacturing companies, are described. In the face of numerous expected benefits, such as improved monitoring and service level, several barriers emerge, mainly concerning infrastructure costs and cybersecurity.