5G in Manufacturing: Enhancing Global Supply Chain Efficiency

The global manufacturing supply chain has entered a volatile phase where speed and continuity define a factory’s competitiveness. Traditional connectivity systems that rely on fiber optics or single WAN networks increasingly expose weaknesses, causing disruptions during demand spikes or physical incidents. With 24/7 operations and production networks spread across multiple countries, manufacturers cannot maintain international standards without stronger connectivity. For this reason, many enterprises and corporations turn to less vulnerable connectivity models, particularly wireless technologies like 5G and LEO satellites, to guarantee smooth operations and reinforce competitiveness across global supply chains.

The Global Supply Chain and New Demands for Connectivity

Manufacturers distribute factories across multiple countries to leverage labor costs, access consumer markets, and reduce concentration risks. This dispersion tightly binds supply chains to cross-border connectivity. If one link breaks, disruptions spread quickly across regions, directly affecting delivery speed and corporate reputation.

The “just-in-time” model amplifies this pressure. Producing only according to real demand lowers inventory costs, but any network failure can trigger severe consequences. A few minutes of network congestion or signal loss can delay thousands of orders and erode international customer trust.

Global corporations increasingly set “zero downtime” as their benchmark to ensure uninterrupted supply chains. Achieving this standard, however, requires superior connectivity infrastructure and continuous monitoring. Enterprises that secure stable, high-speed, and flexible networks will enjoy advantages in reaching this target and lay the foundation for entering the smart factory era.

The global supply chain requires high-speed, stable connectivity to minimize disruptions.

Connectivity Challenges in Manufacturing in Vietnam

Multinational corporations view Vietnam as a critical link in global supply chains. However, factories operating here often face connectivity risks that directly impact efficiency and continuous production.

• Frequent submarine cable failures: International cables often break or overload, forcing traffic onto fewer lines and causing congestion. Production applications like ERP and MES slow down or stop.
• Ineffective backup layers: Most factories use FTTH as backup. While stable under normal conditions, FTTH easily fails during cable breaks or storms, leaving production at high risk.
• Poor bandwidth visibility and control: Many businesses lack real-time monitoring tools, which delays incident detection and lengthens recovery.

The combination of these three factors results in extended downtime that abruptly shuts down automated lines and substantially decreases production efficiency. As a result, factories risk failing to meet corporate HQ requirements and losing competitiveness compared to regional peers.

5G – The Backup Connectivity Solution for Continuous Manufacturing

Traditional infrastructure limitations make it difficult for manufacturers to sustain stable performance. To overcome this barrier, NetNam provides 5G as a backup layer that operates alongside primary connections, ensuring stable wireless connectivity when wired networks fail. For higher redundancy needs, the solution can integrate LEO satellites.

• Operate in any condition: As a wireless connection, 5G resists physical failures such as cable cuts or storms, maintaining communication even when wired systems break.
• High bandwidth: 5G delivers enough bandwidth to ensure that ERP, MES, and industrial IoT applications continue to operate seamlessly when the main line experiences disruptions.
• Low latency: With latency under 10ms, nearly equal to fiber optics, 5G supports real-time applications like automated line control and robotics.

5G ensures backup connectivity that keeps factories running continuously and reduces downtime.

This backup solution not only resolves the inherent weaknesses of current networks but also builds a reliable foundation for uninterrupted production. Manufacturers can significantly reduce downtime risks, optimize performance, and move closer to the strict connectivity standards of global supply chains. This step strengthens Vietnam-based factories as dependable hubs in international production networks.

Case Study: SVP Worldwide in Vietnam

SVP Worldwide, the world’s largest sewing machine manufacturer, operates a factory in Vietnam as a key global supply chain node. However, during operations, the factory faced multiple challenges from unstable connectivity, limited support staff, and the absence of network monitoring platforms, which caused continuous downtime. This posed significant obstacles to maintaining operational stability and optimizing production efficiency, with direct consequences for both performance and operating costs. 

SVP Worldwide in Vietnam applied ICT and 5G backup to maintain stable production.

To resolve these issues, NetNam delivered a one-stop-shop ICT Managed Services (MSP) solution with a focus on stable connectivity and integrated 5G backup:

• Stable, continuous connections: NetNam deployed Premium DIA (Dedicated Internet Access) combined with 5G backup. This redundancy ensured uninterrupted connectivity, even during primary outages or harsh weather, and kept production lines running.
• Optimized bandwidth and costs: Through proactive monitoring and management, the company gains control over actual utilization, enabling optimization of both network performance and service expenditure.
• Proactive monitoring and rapid response: NetNam integrated real-time network monitoring tools, detected anomalies early, and provided timely solutions. This reduced disruption risks, increased productivity, and cut costs.

Results exceeded expectations:

• Maintained uptime above 99.95% with 5G backup
• Reduced packet loss to below 0.5%
• Shortened incident resolution times significantly
• Lowered operating costs by 15%

By combining 5G with effective IT infrastructure management, SVP Worldwide minimized downtime risks, strengthened connection reliability, and reinforced Vietnam’s reputation as a trusted manufacturing destination in global supply chains.

5G - A Competitive Advantage for Smart Factories

In global manufacturing, connectivity stability is the prerequisite for continuous production. In Vietnam, wired infrastructure still faces risks such as submarine cable failures and weather disruptions. Deploying 5G as a backup not only solves connectivity issues but also creates long-term competitive advantages.

• Boost production efficiency: Stable connectivity sustains robots, IoT sensors, and automated lines, minimizing disruptions.
• Reduce operational errors: 5G ensures ERP and MES data updates in real time, even when primary lines fail, lowering risks of misinformation.
• Strengthen competitiveness: Early adopters of 5G gain recognition as technology innovators and enhance their industry reputation. Predictive maintenance in modern manufacturing already uses 5G to monitor equipment in real time, reduce downtime, and increase efficiency.

5G with Managed Services - Value Beyond Connectivity

5G provides the infrastructure to accelerate production, but long-term stability and security require comprehensive solutions. When businesses deploy Premium DIA as the primary line and combine it with NetNam’s Managed IT Infrastructure Services, they gain a powerful ecosystem of stable, secure connectivity. NetNam’s “connectivity plus management” model not only enhances performance but also ensures continuity and security, enabling efficient and sustainable operations.

NetNam celebrates 30 years of pioneering connectivity and comprehensive IT management for enterprises.

NetNam also supports businesses that have not yet deployed 5G backup. In emergencies such as storms, fires, or submarine cable breaks, NetNam can deploy standalone 5G as a temporary rescue solution. This enables factories to maintain production while waiting for primary line restoration, minimizing disruption risks.

Whether or not businesses already use 5G backup, they can rely on NetNam to guarantee operational continuity. This unique advantage transforms 5G from a connectivity tool into a strategic foundation that optimizes costs, frees IT resources, and increases adaptability as operations scale.

Contact NetNam: 

• Hotline: 1900 1586
• Email: support@netnam.vn
• Website: www.netnam.com