Factory automation and production are currently undergoing massive changes, and 5G is considered being a key enabler. In this paper, we state uses cases for using 5G in the factory of the future, which are motivated by actual needs of the industry partners of the "5Gang" consortium. Based on these use cases and the ones by 3GPP, a 5G system architecture for the factory of the future is proposed. It is set in relation to existing architectural frameworks.

In this paper, we propose a communication network architecture for industrial applications that combines new 5G technologies with other existing communication technologies on the shop floor. This architecture connects private and public mobile networks with local networking technologies to achieve a flexible setup addressing many different industrial use cases. We show how the advancements introduced around the new 5G mobile technology can address a wide range of industrial requirements. We further describe relevant use cases and develop an overall communication system architecture proposal, which is able to fulfill not only technical requirements but also system requirements, which result from specific applications existing in today’s and future manufacturing scenarios.