The testing of bandwidth-rich, mm-wave frequencies for mass production remains one of the most challenging areas within the Test & Measurement (T&M) sector. Whether it is for 5G small cells, wireless high-definition streaming or advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), test solutions need to be economical and easy to use. Innovation is driven by the development of new techniques used to lower test costs. Lowering costs for E-band component manufacturing will create affordable end products for the mass market and reduce the need for equipment configuration.
“Companies must look beyond traditional performance indicators with a new testing approach for manufacturing. Adopting new testing scenarios with higher modularity, PC control, and use of software-defined radio to cover all of the main wireless technologies and all of the stages of the product lifecycle, including manufacturing, will offer significant growth opportunities,” said Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Mariano Kimbara. “Presently, T&M companies are working with chipset vendors to develop fast solution for 802.11 ad standard manufacturing tests.”
According to Global Electronic Test and Measurement Market Outlook in Manufacturing, Forecast to 2020, a new analysis from Frost & Sullivan’s Test & Measurement Growth Partnerships Service (GPS) program, top tier companies are challenged by the demand to produce test equipment that can support emerging wireless technologies. Anritsu Corporation, Keysight Technologies, National Instruments and Rohde & Schwarz are expected to continue to dominate the total market.
Leading T&M companies are providing modular hardware components that users can program to meet the requirements of test applications. The future deployment of 5G will completely change the landscape of the market, with growing opportunities for modular instrumentation. To remain profitable, companies must rethink their approach to wireless manufacturing tests and embrace new paradigms.
“There are some initiatives of companies developing effective data analytics solutions based on strong expertise in manufacturing test. These solutions leverage the vast amount of untapped test data being collected by manufacturers. Cloud analytics applied to manufacturing is focused on providing increasing production yield and product quality,” noted Kimbara.
