In 2026, manufacturers face a dual challenge: increase productivity while reducing downtime. Global competition, rising labour costs, and the pressure of just-in-time production mean that even a few hours of lost output can have significant financial consequences.
Enter private 5G networks. Promising ultra-low latency, high reliability, and secure connectivity, private 5G is being hailed as the foundation for Industry 4.0. From automated guided vehicles (AGVs) to robotic arms and real-time video monitoring, enterprises are investing millions into these networks with the expectation that they will provide seamless operations.
But technology investments must be proven. For one UK-based automotive manufacturing plant, their private 5G network did not initially deliver the reliability they expected. Intermittent disruptions in connectivity were causing production halts, creating both operational and financial risks.
This is the story of how Nexibium’s CoverageIQ™ testing platform helped the plant identify root causes, optimise their network, and ultimately reduce downtime by 20% in the first quarter post-optimisation.
Key Outcomes
Downtime reduced by 20%, saving the production costs
Latency stabilised at <20 ms across all zones
AGVs operated seamlessly without connection loss.
Video and voice services ran smoothly