Private 5G supports vehicle manufacturing for JLR

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is accelerating industrial connectivity at its plant in Solihull, UK, with the implementation of Ericsson Private 5G. This cutting-edge networking technology is enhancing the production of Range Rover vehicles by supporting business-critical applications such as vision systems, IoT sensors and production tools. Leveraging Ericsson’s high-speed, low-latency and secure private 5G solution, JLR says it is setting new standards in modern automotive manufacturing.

The deployment of Ericsson Private 5G is a pivotal step for JLR in embracing Industry 4.0, enabling the company to create a more agile and innovative manufacturing environment to support IoT devices, artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, with an eye towards automated guided vehicles (AGVs). The limitations of traditional wired networks drove JLR to replace those networks with Ericsson’s 5G capabilities, allowing for seamless and real-time data transmission. This transformation means that JLR’s manufacturing processes will not only be connected but also efficient, leading to streamlined operations.

Private 5G has been driving greater workflow efficiency at JLR, with manufacturing teams already sharing positive feedback. Through enhanced connectivity, maintenance and production, managers can now turn data insights and simulations into tangible operational efficiencies with DataOps platforms such as Litmus. Consolidating and analysing data empowers JLR decision-makers on the factory floor to quickly innovate and optimise manufacturing processes. Additionally, private 5G enables JLR to quickly swap and provision new or broken connected tools, reducing downtime and enabling quicker modifications to the production line — from weeks to seconds.

“As a leading global luxury automotive manufacturer, it is crucial for us to equip our teams with the tools and connectivity necessary to optimise efficiency,” said Stephen Mason, Product Manager, Manufacturing, Global IT at JLR. “Ericsson Private 5G provides a robust foundation for a connected, agile and data-driven manufacturing environment. This positions us to enhance automation, digitalisation, safety and sustainability across our operations.”

Manish Tiwari, Head of Enterprise 5G, Enterprise Wireless Solutions at Ericsson, added, “Private 5G is transforming manufacturing by supporting the complex connectivity needs of Industry 4.0. We are thrilled to partner with a luxury automotive leader like JLR, providing a network solution that elevates their global manufacturing capabilities.”

Fujitsu partnered with Ericsson to deliver the connectivity of the comprehensive, end-to-end private 5G-based operations at the Solihull plant. This collaboration paves the way for JLR to explore use cases at other sites in the future.

Image courtesy of JLR.