## 1 Introduction  
Smart manufacturing (also known as the smart factory concept) is a revolutionary concept that aims to transform the manufacturing sector through the utilization of modern technologies [1]. The objective of smart manufacturing is to create a more productive, flexible, and eco-friendly manufacturing system that can adapt to changing market needs and, consequently, boost the overall performance of manufacturing processes. The successful implementation of smart manufacturing relies heavily on the effective use of the Industrial IoT (IIoT) and industrial communications [2, 3, 4]. The IIoT enables seamless connectivity between machines, systems, sensors, and human operators, facilitating real-time data exchange, which is crucial for optimizing production processes, ensuring quality control, and supporting predictive maintenance. This interconnected environment allows for more efficient decision making and enhances the flexibility and responsiveness of manufacturing systems to meet evolving demands. This combination of physical and digital systems is a central part of the fourth industrial revolution (also known as Industry 4.0) [5, 6], which is transforming conventional industrial automation and control systems into sophisticated cyber-physical manufacturing systems. A reference architecture called the Reference Architecture Model for Industrie 4.0 (RAMI 4.0), developed by the German Industrie 4.0 Platform in 2015, enables the implementation of Industry 4.0 [7]. Beyond Industry 4.0, we expect to see an environment where autonomous machines and humans collaborate to achieve common goals. This further evolution is often referred to as Industry 5.0, although the concept is still emerging in the academic literature. Unlike Industry 4.0, which focuses on automation and the IIoT, Industry 5.0 emphasizes the integration of human creativity and intelligence alongside advanced technologies to create more sustainable, resilient, and human-centric manufacturing systems [8; 9; 10; 11; 12]. According to the European Commission, Industry 5.0 is centered on sustainability, focusing on human well-being and environmental considerations while still leveraging technological advancements [13]. This vision aims to balance the power of technology with a human touch, fostering collaboration between humans and machines to enhance both productivity and social responsibility. Technologies such as augmented and extended reality (A/XR), autonomic systems, and 6G networks [14] are anticipated to play a key role in realizing this vision by enabling more autonomous, self-adjusting manufacturing systems that can anticipate and respond to fluctuating market needs. However, as Industry 5.0 evolves, it is important to account for both technological and human factors, ensuring that advancements serve not only economic growth but also social and environmental sustainability [15; 16]. The industrial evolution in the context of smart manufacturing is summarized and illustrated in Figure 1.  
Recent developments in communication technologies such as 5G, WiFi 7, and time-sensitive networking (TSN) are expected to be key enablers of smart manufacturing in the Industry 4.0 and beyond era. These technologies have the potential to completely change the way industrial devices communicate with the digital world, allowing a vast number of industrial machines to be connected to the Internet and interact with an array of IT applications used to manage industrial organizations, thus enabling the development of faster, more efficient, and more responsive manufacturing systems. The introduction of 5G networks has opened up new possibilities for wireless communication, especially in the field of smart manufacturing. Fifth-generation networks specify an advanced cellular infrastructure that offers significant improvements in terms of speed, capacity, and low latency compared to previous generations, supporting not only traditional mobile broadband services but also a wide range of machine-to-machine communication services [17].