5G-Enabled IIoT Framework Architecture Towards Sustainable Smart Manufacturing

With the rapid growth of advanced technologies in the manufacturing sector, a revolution in manufacturing systems is underway and smart manufacturing and its sustainability are becoming the key components towards the fourth industrial revolution. In this context, the IIoT (industrial internet of things), represents a bridge between the digital and physical environment by providing an interactive relation between smart devices and machines also through data sharing. Therefore, it creates a working environment where decisions are made in real-time.

The huge data amount generated through the manufacturing system, the high reliability, low latency, and high connectivity demands of IIoT-enabled intelligent manufacturing system requires an advanced wireless transmission technology that goes far beyond the 3rd and 4th generation mobile network. 5G is the most appropriate communication technology for this new IIoT enabled smart manufacturing system’s requirements.

Based on the requirements of sustainable smart manufacturing and the characteristics of the 5G wireless communication, this paper proposes a 5G-enabled IIoT framework architecture towards a sustainable smart manufacturing environment, that will allow the support of manufacturers and smart factories in the industrial 4.0 revolution. This is by improving while enhancing efficiency, process and product quality, and sustainability in the whole manufacturing system. Besides, the security threats and challenges of the 5G-IIoT enabled smart manufacturing are also analyzed.