We discuss the following topics in this blog:
- How to make global supply chains less complex, more nimble, and more agile?
- What is the future of global supply chains?
In addition to these topics, we shall also be answering the following FAQs:
- What is WiFi?
- What is 5G NR?
Juhi: As we have seen global supply chains, international trade and production have been severely impacted forecasting models haven’t kept up as it depends on historical data for future predictions deliveries have been impacted at the same time lot of governments are taking out protection regimes. In this context how do we make our global supply chains less complex, more nimble, and more agile? What is the future of global supply chains?
Dr. Anand: When you think of that question you got to start thinking of multiple dimensions. One dimension is if the current situation was in anybody’s prediction model or forecasting model itself? The second area is essentially is more geopolitical then the third thing is, essentially what leads to people sort of buying or holding on to stuff and that is more to do with psychology and behaviors.
I would take into cognizance the last two-three weeks scenario especially areas like toilet paper in Walmart etc. to kind of start thinking that the supply chain is broken. The good aspect is that things are still working in a macro sense in terms of food, grain, etc. You had two week period where the personal protection equipment etc was not there but then it sort of moved on.
If I start thinking of it in a mid to long-term perspective, things which are large volumes which are high scale, and which will be produced by people volume will start prevailing there, people will produce in masses. It will have extremely agile workflows and process flow so that any shift in design can be applied very much similar to what currently EMS companies do and at the same time, a very disruptive aspect on the supply chain or manufacturing model which will be a distributed model will start happening through things like 3D printing.
So a lot of stuff which is more specialized like critical aircraft parts etc which people kind of keep with themselves anticipating some kind of problem statement all those will start getting printed locally with 3D printing. The predictability of the supply chain is only getting better by the day.
Five years ago nobody would imagine that you would order from a high hi-tech mobile phone predictability exactly come from say some handicraft coming in from villages something coming from small towns, but you’re able to collate consolidate and predict in a very effective manner as to when they will come. Overall I feel that the supply chains are only getting better logistics is only getting better.
Watch the full conversation:
FAQs
What is WiFi?
Put simply, WiFi is a technology that uses radio waves to create a wireless network through which devices like mobile phones, computers, printers, etc., connect to the internet. A wireless router is needed to establish a WiFi hotspot that people in its vicinity may use to access internet services. You’re sure to have encountered such a WiFi hotspot in houses, offices, restaurants, etc.
To get a little more technical, WiFi works by enabling a Wireless Local Area Network or WLAN that allows devices connected to it to exchange signals with the internet via a router. The frequencies of these signals are either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz bandwidths. These frequencies are much higher than those transmitted to or by radios, mobile phones, and televisions since WiFi signals need to carry significantly higher amounts of data. The networking standards are variants of 802.11, of which there are several (802.11a, 802.11b, 801.11g, etc.).
What is 5G NR?
5G typically refers to the fifth generation of wireless technology. NR, commonly known as New Radio, is a standard developed by the 3GPP Group (Release 15 being the first version introduced back in 2018) outlining the technology required to harness the newly-available millimeter-wave frequencies. The two frequency bands in which 5GNR operates are Frequency Range 1, i.e., Sub 6GHz band (410 MHz to 7125 MHz), and Frequency Range 2, i.e., millimeter-wave (24.25 to 52.6 GHz). Over 4G LTE, 5G NR provides better spectrum utilization, faster data rates, hardware efficiency, and improved signal processing.
From a deployment standpoint, we have Non-Standalone Mode(NSA), Dynamic Spectrum Sharing(DSS), and Standalone Mode (SA). The initial deployments of 5G NR are based on NSA standards, meaning the existing 4G LTE network will operate on the control plane, and 5G NR will be introduced to the user plane. This particular standard was introduced by 3GPP, keeping in mind the industry’s push to faster 5G services rollout while utilizing the existing 4G LTE infrastructure currently in place. On the other hand, operators are also implementing Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) to accelerate the deployment cycle, reducing costs and improving spectrum utilization. In this standard, the same spectrum is shared between the 5G NR and 4G LTE, multiplexing over time per user demands. Lastly, we have the Standalone Mode (SA), which moves towards a complete 5G based network where both signaling and the information transfer are driven by a 5G cell.
In the future, 5G will enable new services, connect new industries and devices, empower new experiences, and much more, providing mission-critical services, enhanced mobile broadband, and various other things.
a) Enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) Applications: High device connectivity, High mobile data rates, and Mobile AR & VR applications
b) Ultra-reliable, low-latency communications (uRLLC)Applications: Autonomous vehicles, Drones, Data monitoring, Smart mfg.
c) Massive machine-type communications (mMTC)Applications: Healthcare, Industry 4.0, Logistics, Environmental monitoring, Smart farming, Smart grids
