How Ericsson's Private 5G Helps JLR's Digital Transformation
Jaguar Land Rover's (JLR) Solihull facility has been a site of transformation for the last five years.
An injection of £1.5 billion (US$1.88bn) in investment and the longstanding dedication of JLR's manufacturing and engineering teams have made it one of the most advanced vehicle manufacturing facilities in the world.
It boasts Europe's largest aluminium body shop and the world's largest single aluminium pressing in the automotive industry on its Range Rover body side, weighing just 7kg.
Now, JLR is advancing the site even further by enhancing its industrial connectivity with the deployment of Ericsson's Private 5G network.
The need to 'cut the copper'
Driving the deployment of Ericsson's 5G network is JLR's desire to revolutionise the production of Range Rover vehicles by enabling seamless connectivity between several essential systems.
These include advanced vision technology, IoT sensors and precision manufacturing tools.
The company has recognised the constraints of traditional wired networks, inspiring its decision to "cut the copper" and replace legacy infrastructure with Ericsson's resilient 5G capabilities.
Ericsson's private 5G solution is high-speed, low-latency and secure, enabling JLR to foster a more agile, technologically-advanced and connected production environment.
By supporting seamless real-time data transmission, the 5G network ensures a responsive, highly-connected and efficient manufacturing ecosystem.
This environment is the ideal foundation for the manufacturer to further its strategic focus on automated guided vehicles (AGVs).
“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," says 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, digitalization, safety, and sustainability across our operations.”
The results from private 5G
Private 5G is enhancing workflow efficiency at JLR, with manufacturing teams already reporting positive results.
With improved connectivity, maintenance and production managers are now able to translate data insights and simulations into real-world operational improvements using DataOps platforms like Litmus.
JLR’s decision-makers on the factory floor can easily consolidate and analyse data, enabling them to rapidly drive innovation and optimise manufacturing processes.
Private 5G also allows JLR to seamlessly replace and configure new or faulty connected tools, minimising downtime and enabling swift adjustments to the production line.
Critical to enabling this transformation of JLR's Solihull plant has been Fujitsu. The IT and communications leader partnered with Ericsson specifically to help provide the connectivity needed for the advanced, end-to-end private 5G-powered operation at the Solihull plant.
This collaboration lays the groundwork for JLR to explore similar implementations of 5G across its factory network, highlighting the myriad benefits of 5G adoption for manufacturers.
“Private 5G is transforming manufacturing by supporting the complex connectivity needs of Industry 4.0," says Manish Tiwari, Head of Enterprise 5G, Enterprise Wireless Solutions at Ericsson.
"We are thrilled to partner with a luxury automotive leader like JLR, providing a network solution that elevates their global manufacturing capabilities.”
Explore the latest edition of Manufacturing Digital and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Manufacturing LIVE.
Sign up to our weekly newsletter here.
Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today.
Manufacturing Digital is a BizClik brand.
