The manufacturing industry stands on the brink of a shift, with technological advancements and changing global dynamics fueling a transformative journey. As the world moves forward from the pandemic, digital connectivity has become the stepping stone for this evolution, allowing manufacturers to reimagine processes, enhance efficiency, and achieve sustainable growth.
The urgency of this shift is underscored by India’s goal to increase the manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP from 13 percent to 25 percent. Along with a growing reliance on “Make in India” policies, alongside government initiatives such as the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, pushing the boundaries for transformation further.
Highlighting these trends in the Manufacturing industry, Airtel Business – the B2B arm of Airtel, has brought out a whitepaper titled – Wired to Win in partnership with Zamun. Detailing the role of technology in the transformative journey of the manufacturing industry, the whitepaper reveals the role of wireless, cloud, and networking technologies in shaping the future of smart manufacturing.
The whitepaper proposes the TASK-ICAN approach to guide manufacturers in achieving optimal returns on their technology investments. The approach begins with defining the “TASK” — tracking technology trends, setting clear goals, articulating ambitions, and specifying technology stacks. After defining the task, manufacturers should choose the appropriate ICAN (Instrumentation, Connectivity, Applications, Networking Technologies) to align with their business objectives. This ensures a comprehensive strategy for digital transformation and enhanced operational efficiency.
India’s manufacturing sector is shaped by five key trends. Geopolitical shifts are driving local sourcing, with initiatives like “Make in India” and PLI boosting domestic production, while the “China +1” strategy positions India as a key alternative in global supply chains. Sustainability and digital transformation are gaining traction, with AI and IoT optimizing operations and reducing emissions.
Accelerated product development is reshaping the industry, with lead times expected to shrink by 30 percent by 2026. Manufacturers now prioritize outcome-based SLAs, focusing on measurable productivity and cost efficiency. However, a skilled workforce shortage remains a challenge, with 85-90 million workers needed in advanced manufacturing by 2030.
Airtel Business is at the forefront of technological integrations to offer solutions that drive efficiency and innovation. With expertise in instrumentation digitalization, the company enables seamless IoT integration for enhanced monitoring and control. Its advanced connectivity solutions, including 5G, ensure high-speed, low-latency communication to support modern enterprise needs. Through cloud and collaborative applications, Airtel Business facilitates seamless data management and cross-functional collaboration. Additionally, its comprehensive networking solutions offer a secure and robust infrastructure, ensuring reliable connectivity for interconnected manufacturing systems.
Case study
A leading Indian manufacturer faced several challenges, including rising latency, network issues, and setbacks in the deployment of industrial automation processes. These problems led to poor control and visibility of the entire network, leading to a drop in productivity and efficiency. To address these issues, the company partnered with Airtel to streamline their network with Airtel Private 5G, enabling seamless and reliable connectivity that supported industry automation. The solution offered widespread coverage, scalability, and robust network performance, reducing latency to 20-25 ms and guaranteeing 99.9 percent network uptime. The connectivity supported over 1,500 devices, sensors, and machinery, resulting in improved smart manufacturing initiatives and a significant increase in overall operational efficiency.
The adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies like AI, machine learning, predictive maintenance, and digital twins are becoming integral to the manufacturing process, improving decision-making, reducing cycle times, and optimizing operations. In India, the adoption of 3D printing and AI-driven predictive maintenance is accelerating, helping manufacturers reduce time-to-market and enhance efficiency.
While Industry 4.0 laid the groundwork for automation and smart factories, the next phase of manufacturing, Industry 5.0 emphasizes human-machine collaboration and the integration of automation and generative AI. This evolution is further catapulted by the integration of intelligent technologies, such as AI, machine learning, and IoT, which will allow manufacturers to stay competitive in the global market, reduce operational costs, and accelerate product development cycles.
In conclusion, the manufacturing industry is on the cusp of significant evolution, and India is positioned to be a key player in this global transformation. With government support, technological advancements, and strategic investments in talent, India can meet its ambitious goals and become a global manufacturing powerhouse.
