## 1 Introduction
The high-speed and low-latency capabilities of 5G, combined with features such as the New Radio interface, network slicing, and software-defined networking (SDN), are expected to provide the foundation for a highly connected and efficient industrial ecosystem. Advanced error correction codes, mmWave, massive MIMO, and improved signal processing in 5G further enhance reliability and performance, making it possible to connect a large number of devices and sensors in real time. These capabilities make 5G an ideal solution for smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0, allowing for the seamless exchange of data between machinery, systems, and devices. WiFi 7, the latest development in wireless local area network technology, boasts an array of technical features, such as the use of higher-order modulation (4096 QAM), multi-link operation, wider bandwidth, multi-AP operation, and WiFi sensing, providing the  
Figure 1: Industrial evolution in the context of smart manufacturing. enhanced connectivity and increased efficiency needed in Industry 4.0 and beyond [18]. The high modulation order enables fast data transmission, while multi-link operation allows a device to connect to the network using multiple links, thereby enhancing reliability, performance, and capacity. The extended bandwidth of WiFi 7 allows more data to be sent, thus reducing latency and enhancing effectiveness. Multi-AP operation, by operating numerous access points as one entity, ensures uninterrupted coverage even in large facilities, while WiFi sensing offers integrated location-based services and enhanced asset tracking. Time-sensitive networking, a set of standards under development by the IEEE 802.1 working group, facilitates the development of smart manufacturing. This technology includes some unique features, such as time synchronization, bounded end-to-end latency, dependability, and resource/network management, which guarantee real-time communication and control between devices [19]. Fine-grained time synchronization across all devices on the network allows these devices to collaborate, while bounded end-to-end latency guarantees an expected response time. Additionally, TSN's high reliability ensures that communication and control systems remain in working order even when network failures occur. Furthermore, resource and network management offer an effective distribution of network resources, giving priority to critical data transmission. Wireless TSN takes these advantages to a higher level, enabling real-time communication and control for mobile devices and machines, particularly in places where wired solutions are not practical. The objective of this paper is to examine the role of 5G, WiFi 7, and TSN in driving smart manufacturing in the Industry 4.0 and beyond era. We provide a comprehensive overview of the key enabling features of these technologies and their applicability in the context of future smart manufacturing. This paper also compares these technologies, evaluates their impact on smart manufacturing use cases, and discusses the trade-offs and potential synergies between them. To stimulate future research, we discuss a number of challenges and promising future research directions associated with the evolving smart manufacturing landscape. The rest of this paper is structured as follows. In Section 2, we provide an overview of the key technologies in 5G private networks specifically designed for industrial communications. Section 3 discusses the key features of WiFi 7 and its relevance in industrial settings. Section 4 covers the characteristics of TSN and provides details about TSN over wireless networks such as WiFi and 5G. A comparative analysis of these communication technologies is presented in Section 5. In Section 6 we highlight the challenges and future directions of industrial communication technologies. Finally, we conclude this paper in Section 7.