How the 5G innovation platform is enabling the next generation of lean production

5G is much more than a network - it’s a platform for innovation with the ability to provide global scale and enable manufacturing use cases that we haven’t even dreamed of yet.
5G can take traditional ways of working and make them more flexible. If you look at previous generations of cellular technology, 5G is the first that has been made for machines. 3G and 4G were made for people and could basically do one thing – smartphones.
With 5G we have a lot of different flavours; you can do everything from simple sensors, vision systems, low latency, remote control, connected workers, mobility – and all with the same infrastructure.
5G will be able to simplify manufacturing infrastructures. If you look at a typical factory today there is a huge number of differing networks, whether that be Sigma, Bluetooth, LoRa and cable or WiFi networks. When handling all those networks total cost of ownership is very high. We can simplify that by having one infrastructure. In addition, 5G is a licenced technology, which means it’s more reliable.
Lean manufacturing is about being data driven and making decisions based on facts. 5G becomes the layer that can collect data, analyse it and then return it so that manufacturers can act in a very reliable way, adding even more data into the lean manufacturing concept. Right now, we see many islands of information in the factory; we can link those together.
The flexibility to be able to have a one-piece flow, but using the same level of resources of full volume production, will be the biggest key to sustainability. Right now, when we produce stock, there’s a lot of waste and we produce elements that we don’t actually need. If we can have the flexibility to be as fast as we are today with volume production, but with added customisation, we’ll know that every product produced will have an end customer. The next step for 5G is to go beyond local and combine that with the global connectivity that exists. We see automotive manufacturers already doing that, where 5G is providing a digital thread, carrying information throughout the whole lifecycle of a product.

_{The original content of the note was published on Themanufacturer.com. To read the full note visit here}

Lean And Innovation: How The Two Complement Rather Than Contradict

Innovation is vital to any successful business, but it can be difficult to achieve. Almost every executive will say that innovation is essential, but there is little consensus on how to manage it. Many companies struggle to balance the need for innovation with the need to maintain efficiency and profitability.
This is where Lean principles can be beneficial and drive financial impact.
Lean is a manufacturing philosophy that Toyota developed in the 1940s. The central idea behind Lean is to eliminate waste in all its forms and continually improve processes. This philosophy can be applied to any business, not just manufacturing.
One of the main objectives of Lean is to identify and eliminate activities that do not add value. By eliminating these activities, a company can reduce costs, improve quality, and free up resources to focus on innovation.
The lean approach also encourages continuous improvement. This means that each process must be periodically evaluated to identify areas for improvement.
But how is Lean related to innovation?
After all, innovation often requires taking risks and experimenting with new ideas, which can be seen as a form of waste. It's not like anyone could plan to come up with three good innovation ideas in the shower every Monday morning. That's just not how knowledge work works.
However, lean can actually help facilitate innovation in a number of ways. First, by eliminating activities that do not add value, a company can free up resources to focus on innovation. This could mean reassigning staff, funding a dedicated innovation team, or investing in new technology or research and development.
Second, Lean's emphasis on continuous improvement means that a company is always looking for ways to improve its products and services.
Finally, when applied correctly, the Lean approach fosters a culture of experimentation and learning. In a truly lean organization, it's acceptable to try new ideas, even if they don't work. Failures are seen as opportunities to learn and improve rather than something to be avoided at all costs.
In conclusion, lean and innovation are not mutually exclusive. Lean principles can help facilitate innovation by eliminating waste, freeing up resources, encouraging continuous improvement, and promoting a culture of experimentation and learning.

_{The original content of the note was published on Forbes.com. To read the full note visit here}