22nd International IEEE Conference on Factory Communication Systems (WFCS 2026)
Offenburg, Germany – April 21-24, 2026
22nd International IEEE Conference on Factory Communication Systems (WFCS 2026)
Offenburg, Germany – April 21-24, 2026
Program
The scientific program will be published in February 2026
Keynotes
Keynote 1: Wireless Resilient Data Communication Networks for Intelligent Applications in Smart Cities and Smart Industries
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Christof Bosbach, President of the Division Board DIEHL Metering, Member of the Executive Board at DIEHL Group
The digital revolution is fundamentally transforming cities and industries: intelligent sensors, big data and AI are optimizing traffic flows, energy consumption and production processes. Factories are becoming more autonomous, cities smarter. Decisions are increasingly based on (real-time) data, which significantly improves efficiency, sustainability and quality of life. The future will be data-driven and networked.
As cities and industry increasingly rely on digital technologies, data and AI, data communication networks must be particularly efficient and resilient. They form the backbone of these networked systems and ensure that critical infrastructures such as energy supply, traffic management systems and production facilities remain functional even under difficult conditions. A failure can have far-reaching consequences - from economic damage to threats to public safety. Resilient networks are secure against cyber-attacks, natural disasters and technical defects by enabling redundancy, self-healing and rapid recovery. Only robust communication structures can make the digital transformation secure, reliable and sustainable - and ensure long-term trust in smart technologies.
In this keynote, Dr. Bosbach will explain with the use-case of smart metering, which requirements such resilient communication networks have to meet. He will also give an insight on the impact of the digital revolution on companies, and how they try to cope with these challenges. Solutions include technological advances, profound and steady modernization of organizations, and collaboration with market partners.
Keynote 2: Ethernet’s Role in Centralizing Automotive E/E-Architectures – Insights for Industrial Automation
Keynote Speaker: Thomas Hogenmüller, Director R&D In-Vehicle Networks at Robert Bosch GmbH
Director R&D In-Vehicle Networks at Robert Bosch GmbH
As OEMs shift from domain based toward centralized and zonal E/E architectures, Ethernet has become the core enabler of high-bandwidth, low-latency communication in automotive systems. This keynote delves into how technologies like Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN), IEEE1722, Software Defined Networking, but also the scalable Automotive Physical Layer from 10 Mb/s up to 50 Gb/s are used to meet stringent real-time and safety requirements across ADAS, infotainment, and powertrain domains. As well the focus on this talk is how to reduce the total cost of ownership towards the lifecycle of a vehicle platform.
We explore architectural transitions from domain controllers to central compute nodes, the role of Ethernet switches in zonal gateways and the transition between an embedded signal-based domain and the compute domain with service orientation. Parallels are drawn to industrial automation, where similar demands for deterministic communication, modular scalability, and reduced system complexity are driving adoption of Ethernet-based fieldbus replacements.
The realization of these new architectures and their associated network technologies demands a new set of processes, methods, and tools.
Tutorials
Time Synchronization in Industrial Networks: Fundamentals, Protocols, and Hands-On Exercises
Dr. Mahin Ahmed (Silicon Austria Labs GmbH) & Lucas Haug (Institute for Parallel and Distributed Systems, University of Stuttgart)
Abstract:
Accurate time synchronization is essential for modern industrial communication systems, enabling deterministic communication, coordinated control, distributed sensing, and safety-
critical applications.
The first unit of the tutorial introduces the fundamentals of time synchronization for industrial networks, covering clock models, performance metrics, and key protocols such as IEEE
1588 Precision Time Protocol (PTP), industrial Ethernet profiles, and emerging wireless solutions. It focuses on Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) and 5G, explaining how synchronization is implemented and how industrial requirements are met, including in integrated 5G-TSN networks.
The second unit of the tutorial includes a hands-on session complements the theory, allowing participants to simulate, configure, and evaluate time synchronization using practical tools for industrial network scenarios.
Description:
Accurate and reliable time synchronization is a fundamental enabler for modern industrial communication systems, supporting deterministic communication, coordinated control, distributed sensing, and safety-critical applications. As industrial networks evolve toward converged wired–wireless architectures, achieving precise end-to-end time alignment across heterogeneous technologies has become both more critical and more challenging.
This tutorial provides a comprehensive and structured introduction to time synchronization in industrial networks. It starts with fundamental concepts, including clock models, synchronization accuracy and precision, error sources, and commonly used performance metrics. Building on these foundations, the tutorial surveys the main synchronization protocols used in industry. A particular emphasis is placed on Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) and 5G. The tutorial explains how time synchronization is realized within each technology, how stringent industrial requirements are addressed, and how synchronization performance impacts real-time communication. Furthermore, the tutorial explores integrated 5G-TSN networks, discussing architectural aspects, synchronization distribution across wired and wireless domains, and the challenges of achieving end-to-end time alignment in converged industrial systems. Additionally, the tutorial will also focus on introducing fault-tolerance in time synchronization protocols.
In addition to the theoretical foundations, the tutorial includes a hands-on session in which participants will actively use practical tools to simulate, configure, and evaluate time synchronization in representative industrial network scenarios using reproducible, tool-based exercises. This session directly connects theoretical concepts from the earlier units with measured synchronization performance, enabling practical understanding and application. This combination of theory, discussion, and practical exercises ensures that participants gain both conceptual understanding and actionable skills relevant for research, system design, and deployment.
Outline:
- Introduction and Motivation
- Role of time synchronization in industrial automation
- Use cases: deterministic networking, coordinated control, distributed sensing
- Overview of challenges in modern industrial systems
- Fundamentals of Time Synchronization
- Clock models and clock behavior
- Accuracy vs. precision
- Synchronization error sources
- Performance metrics and evaluation criteria
- Industrial Time Synchronization Protocols
- Synchronization mechanisms in TSN
- 5G time synchronization concepts and architecture
- Requirements and performance considerations for industrial use cases
- Integrated 5G-TSN Networks
- Architectural overview
- Synchronization distribution across wired and wireless domains
- Key challenges for end-to-end synchronization
- Fault-Tolerance in Time synchronization
- Types of faults
- Fault-tolerance mechanisms
- Standardized approaches
- Hands-On Session and Discussion
- Simulation and configuration of synchronization scenarios
- Evaluation of synchronization performance
- Interactive discussion and Q&A
Low Power Wide Area Networks for Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)
Wolfram Strauß (Fraunhofer IIS Nürnberg)
Abstract:
LPWAN technologies are indispensable for IIoT, offering the necessary connectivity, scalability, and efficiency to support a wide array of industrial applications. To make a well founded decision, it is important to have a basic understanding of key strengths and weaknesses of the technology in general and of the different systems within the LPWAN family.
In the first part of the tutorial, an application context with example uses cases, a technology overview, and the main representatives are presented. The second portion elaborates on technological details of selected systems. In the last section, two systems (LoRaWAN, mioty) are compared, based on key features.
Description:
Data driven processes are transforming all sectors of our life, such as manufacturing. Better efficiency, more transparency, quicker response time and less use of resources are demanded. Especially environmental concerns are becoming a focal point in the industrial context, which is emphasized by e.g. the EU directive „Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive“ (CSRD). To collect necessary data in complex and dynamic industrial processes, wireless technologies are key. Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) can provide an important contribution to solve these tasks.
To make an informed decision for the use case at hand, a technological background is needed, which shows key features, but also weaknesses of the LPWAN technology as a whole. Furthermore a distinction between
Outline
- Introduction
- Personal background / IIS
- Context / motivation
- Use cases
- LPWAN overview
- Representatives: LoraWAN, mioty, NB-IoT / LTE-M, Sigfox, ...
- Selection
- Break
- LPWANs in detail
- LoRaWAN
- mioty
- NB-IoT
- Break
- LPWAN comparison
- Cell-based - non-cellular based
- Key performance indicators
- LoRaWAN - mioty
- Conclusion
- Q&A
Sponsors
