JLR deploys private 5G network at Solihull manufacturing site

A private 5G network has been deployed at the JLR Solihull manufacturing site, marking a significant advancement within the 5G Innovation Regions programme.

The project forms part of the programme's Advanced Manufacturing initiative and has been implemented by WM5G, with funding from the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology. This deployment is expected to enhance JLR's manufacturing operations by facilitating seamless real-time data transmission and optimising production processes.

Jess Ellis, 5GIR Programme Director at WM5G, remarked, "This deployment is a key milestone in the project and I am proud of the way our delivery partners and the team at JLR have pulled together to achieve network deployment in record time. Smart manufacturing has long been heralded as a game changer for the industry. It has huge potential to improve productivity and unleash capacity across the manufacturing sector by reducing production bottlenecks, predicting and reducing downtime, improving workflow, or ensuring and reviewing quality at every stage of the manufacturing process."

"A huge amount of work has gone into getting the project this far: from clarifying service requirements and developing suitable real-world use cases, to identifying and procuring service providers and coordinating the installation alongside 'business as usual'. We are proud of the work the whole team has delivered to bring this complex project together."

This project sets a precedent in the UK as it retrofits a private 5G network into an active manufacturing setting, transforming theoretical digital frameworks into practice. The network will allow JLR to test various use cases, gather data to develop business cases and create a model that could be adopted within JLR and across the broader UK manufacturing landscape.

Stephen, Digital Operations Director at JLR, commented, "5G availability in our manufacturing facilities in the Midlands is essential to JLR's digital transformation as we enhance the performance of our industrial footprint. As we gear up to the production of our next-generation electric vehicles and their new platforms, the adoption of advanced wireless technologies will improve the scalability, flexibility, and resilience of our manufacturing sites."

Duncan Hawkins, Vice President of Private Network Sales, Enterprise Wireless Solutions at Ericsson, whose technology underpins the network, added, "Full 5G network deployment is a key milestone in our journey to realising the benefits of smart manufacturing. The network's significantly increased speeds and bandwidth, lower latency and enhanced security, will all enable manufacturers like JLR to realise the potential of real-time, data-led shop-floor management truly."

The new network connects production equipment to several Dell edge computing devices and the Litmus Data Ops platform. This setup is designed to create an agile manufacturing environment for JLR's Range Rover vehicles, enhancing the ability of production managers to translate real-time data and simulations into efficient operational outcomes.

Rhys Enfield, Head of Infrastructure Acceleration at WM5G, stated, "As a UK first for a retrofit private 5G network in a live manufacturing environment, the design and installation of the network has not been without its challenges but we are delighted that it is successfully deployed on time and ready to support JLR's digital transformation. The lessons learned along the way will be almost as valuable as the innovation itself and it is these learnings - along with the evidence and data gathered from the next stage of the programme - that will inform our blueprint for wider industry adoption, accelerating roll out across the UK."