# 5G NPN Performance Evaluation for I4.0 Environments
## 2 I4.0 and 5G Convergence Background  
This section covers the different enabling technologies of I4.0 and 5G convergence in discrete, thematic sections, namely, 5G in the factory space, cloud-to-edge continuum, data sharing, and governance and plant floor openness. An overall schema of this process is depicted in Figure 1.  
5G in the factory space: Ongoing digital transformation is essential for the manufacturing industry to transition towards the I4.0 vision [22]. Such transformation is being implemented across all industrial domains, including communications, which remain as the backbone for seamless operations and data exchange across devices and services. The coexistence of existing TSNs and new 5G URLLC capabilities can be seen as a key enabler for future smart industrial processes, where meeting real-time requirements is crucial [23]. However, various technological gaps in the full integration of 5G and TSNs have been identified [19], with the most significant being that of deterministic data transmission and QoS support, which remains an open challenge [24]. The proposed framework includes a novel mapping from the TSN mechanism to the 5G domain by leveraging slicing mechanisms from the NPN perspective. In the I4.0 ecosystem, the use of an NPN allows a vertical to have an end-to-end in-premise 5G network, such that the private traffic can be confined within the boundaries of the defined premises, without the need to reach the public domain. Cloud-to-edge continuum in Industry 4.0: Modern manufacturing industry practices have invested heavily into data transport from the factory floor to the cloud, where bulk processes and monitoring data are analyzed in depth, leveraging the computing superiority and resource flexibility of a remote cloud infrastructure [25]. However, cloud processing renders the trustworthy exchange of information between different industrial data providers in a certified manner difficult. Moreover, considering the heterogeneity of data sources and the requirements of offered services found in Industry 4.0 scenarios, different processing techniques must be considered. In this context, the use of different processing paradigms, such as edge computing, stands as a possible solution for those industrial processes with real-time requirements. 5G integration with an I4.0 edge can offer turnkey functionalities, dynamic asset management, and the necessary interfaces to onboard, test, and validate various innovative apps, while ensuring uninterrupted system operations  
Figure 1: I4.0 and 5G convergence background. and availability [26]. This can be achieved in two stages: (i) the digital twinning of the operational protocols present on the factory floor (i.e., PLC, ERP, MES, and SCADA) by following an OT-as-a-Service (OTaaS) approach based on soft sensors, and creating a validation framework for the various new services to be audited; and then (ii) the secure deployment of the developed services on the factory floor, making use of different processing and storage techniques (depending on the needs), and initiating continuous monitoring of the OT process chain. Data sharing and governance in I4.0: Data sharing already plays a crucial role in the manufacturing industry; either through data sharing for defect detection, or through entire production chain provision and analysis, a significant amount of data is generated each second on the factory floor [27]. Existing horizontal approaches cannot encapsulate the relationships between the different domain processes, actors, and equipment in the OT environment, such that each domain analysis remains isolated and monolithic. Additionally, the rapidly developing EU manufacturing industry horizon ratifies the collaboration and data exchange between different industrial enterprises for mutual benefit and growth. However, the sensitive nature of industrial data necessitates the formation of a trustworthy and sovereign data-exchange mechanism.