DEDHAM, Mass.—Wireless technology may soon permeate the manufacturing sector, with the potential to grow to a more than $1 billion industry by 2010, according to a new study from ARC Advisory Group.
The company predicts a compound annual growth rate for the sector of 26 percent over the next five years.
“Manufacturers recognize that wireless can offer cost reductions,” said Harry Forbes, ARC senior analyst and principal author of the report. “More importantly, they see wireless technologies as an enabler of entirely new business processes that will not only be less expensive, but will be safer, more reliable, and far more transparent than their current manufacturing practices.”
The report said a major driver for wireless in manufacturing environments is the ability of wireless applications to enable new ways of operating plants.
“Historically, process manufacturing has not been able to use wireless on a broad scale, but new sensor networking and (wireless local area network) developments will soon change this, presenting a huge opportunity for manufacturers who can use wireless to gain visibility into hidden processes, assets and activities,” said the report. “These now represent ‘invisible’ assets still not well integrated into the enterprise.”
