Manufacturers are investing in automation, AI, robotics and real-time data to make operations safer, faster and more efficient. But those technologies all depend on something that is easy to overlook: reliable connectivity between the people, machines, devices and applications on the factory floor.
That can be difficult inside a manufacturing facility. Metal structures, dense machinery, moving equipment and large production areas can create coverage gaps and interference. Workers may move between indoor and outdoor environments. Legacy systems must operate alongside new connected equipment. And when a critical application loses its connection, the result can be more than a minor inconvenience; it can slow production, delay maintenance, or prevent teams from accessing the information they need.
The answer is not simply to add more devices. Manufacturers need a complete operational foundation: devices designed for industrial work, connected by a secure and reliable network, with compute close enough to the operation to support real-time decisions.
That is where the KEEN Marketplace and the Khasm Enterprise Edge Network come together.
What Does “Khasm-Validated” Mean?
The Keen marketplace brings together enterprise devices selected for private 5G and demanding operational environments. Khasm Labs validates device connectivity with 5G Standalone networks and relevant private cellular bands, including CBRS, so customers can choose hardware with greater confidence.
Instead of starting with a long list of devices and hoping they work together, manufacturers can build around equipment that has already been evaluated for the type of network they plan to deploy.
Here are several ways those devices can support real manufacturing workflows.
1. Capture Inventory and Production Data Where the Work Happens
Accurate data collection is essential across receiving, production, quality control and finished-goods handling. Yet scanning workflows can break down when handheld devices encounter dead zones or lose connectivity while workers move through the facility.
The Zebra MC9450 is an ultra-rugged mobile computer built for high-volume scanning and data-intensive industrial workflows. On a manufacturing floor, teams could use it to:
- Scan incoming materials and components
- Track work in progress as it moves between production stages
- Record quality inspections at the point of work
- Confirm finished goods and outbound shipments
- Give supervisors real-time visibility into inventory movement
Connected to a KEEN private 5G network, a handheld device can maintain secure connectivity as workers move across production areas, warehouses and yards. The operational value is not just faster scanning. It is more accurate, timely information across the entire workflow.
2. Put Work Orders, Manuals and Live Data in Technicians’ Hands
Maintenance teams often need access to equipment history, schematics, work orders, video support and diagnostic applications while standing next to the machine, not after returning to an office.
The Zebra ET65W is a Windows-based ultra-rugged tablet designed for secure industrial workflows and environments that still rely on Windows applications. It can give technicians a practical mobile interface for:
- Reviewing and closing digital work orders
- Accessing manuals, diagrams and equipment records
- Viewing sensor readings and machine status
- Documenting inspections with photos and notes
- Collaborating with remote specialists during repairs
Because the tablet is designed for industrial use, it can go where a standard office device may not be suitable. KEEN provides the secure private connectivity behind it, helping teams access the same operational systems across the facility without depending entirely on local Wi-Fi coverage.
3. Support Engineering and Diagnostics in Demanding Environments
Some factory-floor tasks require more processing power and a full keyboard. Engineers, controls specialists and maintenance leaders may need to run diagnostics, configure equipment or analyze operational data from the production environment.
The Getac B360 is a rugged, 5G-enabled laptop designed for high-performance mobile computing across manufacturing and field operations. Manufacturers could use it for:
- PLC and industrial equipment diagnostics
- Production-line configuration and commissioning
- Access to manufacturing execution or maintenance systems
- On-site analysis of machine and process data
- Secure remote support and troubleshooting
With private 5G connectivity, technical teams can move closer to the equipment while staying connected to the applications and data needed to resolve issues. That can shorten the path from identifying a problem to taking action.
4. Connect Remote Assets and Industrial Equipment
Not every machine, sensor or legacy system has native private 5G connectivity. Manufacturers may need a practical way to connect remote assets, bridge existing equipment into a modern network or enable Industrial Internet of Things applications without replacing working systems.
The Lantronix NTC-500 is an industrial-grade 5G router designed for secure remote monitoring and critical-infrastructure connectivity. In a manufacturing environment, it could support:
- Connecting sensors and controllers in hard-to-reach areas
- Monitoring pumps, compressors, generators or environmental systems
- Bringing legacy Ethernet equipment onto a private cellular network
- Supporting predictive-maintenance data collection
- Connecting outdoor equipment, storage areas or remote buildings
This creates a bridge between operational technology and the network without requiring every asset to be redesigned. Data from connected equipment can then feed monitoring, analytics or AI applications running at the edge.
5. Add Secure 5G Connectivity at the Facility Edge
Manufacturers may also need connectivity for a production zone, temporary line, remote building or backup connection. The Inseego FX4200 is an enterprise 5G router built for high-throughput connectivity across industrial and distributed sites.
It can help support:
- A temporary production or quality-control area
- A new line awaiting permanent network infrastructure
- Connectivity for a remote warehouse or building
- Backup WAN for critical operations
- A gateway between local equipment and a private 5G network
This flexibility matters because manufacturing environments continually change. Lines are reconfigured, equipment moves and new applications are introduced. Connectivity needs to adapt without turning every operational change into a major infrastructure project.
The Device Is Only One Part of the Solution
A rugged tablet, scanner or router can solve an important endpoint need. But a connected factory is created by the system around those endpoints.
Keen combines private 5G connectivity with on-site edge computing, creating an open platform for industrial devices and applications. The network is designed to give manufacturers the coverage, security and control required for mission-critical operations while bringing compute closer to where data is created.
That combination can support:
- Reliable mobility: Workers and connected assets can move throughout the operational footprint without depending on a patchwork of access points.
- Stronger security and control: Private cellular connectivity, network segmentation and zero-trust architecture help protect devices, applications and operational data.
- Real-time processing: Edge computing allows time-sensitive workloads—such as video analytics, machine monitoring and AI inference—to operate closer to the factory floor.
- A path to scale: Manufacturers can begin with a defined use case and expand coverage, devices and applications as operational needs grow.
- Greater flexibility: KEEN is built as an open platform that can integrate with existing systems and support a range of devices and applications without forcing the operation into a closed ecosystem.
Start with the Operational Problem
The best connected-manufacturing projects do not begin by asking, “Which device should we buy?” They begin with a specific operational problem:
- Where are workers losing access to critical information?
- Which assets are difficult to monitor?
- Where do coverage gaps interrupt scanning or mobile workflows?
- Which cloud-dependent applications need faster local response?
- What process would improve if people and machines shared real-time data?
Once the use case is clear, the right combination of validated endpoints, private connectivity and edge computing becomes much easier to define.
Build the Network. Connect the Right Devices. Improve the Operation.
The factory of the future will not be powered by AI, automation or connected equipment alone. It will depend on the infrastructure that allows all of them to work together.
The KEEN Marketplace helps manufacturers find enterprise-ready devices for real operational environments. KEEN provides the secure private 5G and edge foundation that connects them. Together, they give manufacturers a more practical way to move from isolated technology projects to connected, scalable operations.
Ready to explore the right device and network combination for your facility?