Abstract
Integration of blockchain systems into industrial applications show promise in increasing security, trust, and transparency along the value-chain during product and process tracking. However, current solutions suffer performance deficiencies, or often disregard legacy devices still in operation. We propose a blockchain system built upon an IoT architecture that is secure, modular, easily scalable, and deployable for fast certification of manufacturing data, compatible with current industrial landscapes. First, the proposed architecture is presented along with elements required to manage network functions. Second, easing integration with existing manufacturing solutions, custom APIs are created and subsequently explained. This grants the platform plug-and-play capabilities, requiring minimal hardware and software configuration for deployment. Lastly, a prototype is designed to validate the solution, concluding the viability of the proposed architecture as a fast and secure certification method of manufacturing data.
Highlights
Full traceability of products and processes is one of the main goals of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0), as most of its driving forces, such as a greater emphasis in resource efficiency, and a higher need for flexibility in product development and production place additional strain in Supply Chain Management (SCM) activities [1]
Blockchain is based on a software network fully distributed by its numerous comprising peers, being each able to track, verify, and create cryptographically protected data to add to their shared ledger [4]
The lowest level of the network, and the one with highest user abstraction as end users do not have immediate access to details regarding this layer. It deals in data collection from the field using sensors and ID devices, where information regarding product, process, identification, and localization are gathered allowing for full traceability
Summary
Full traceability of products and processes is one of the main goals of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0), as most of its driving forces, such as a greater emphasis in resource efficiency, and a higher need for flexibility in product development and production place additional strain in Supply Chain Management (SCM) activities [1]. The benefits of using APIs are twofold: (1) the communication between each layer of the blockchain follows a set of standards regarding message format and data, while not being limited to any one type of equipment, facilitating integration with the existing enterprise technical stack; (2) the use of APIs reduces the need for detailed knowledge regarding the networks’s technical implementation, easing deployment and future network modifications. This allows for the creation of a robust and secure system [26]. This document is divided into four sections: Section 1, is the introduction; Sect. 2, explains in detail the several layers in which the proposed architecture is built upon, as well as other network supporting elements; Sect. 3, illustrates preliminary testing subjected to the proposed architecture, and result assessment; Sect. 4, concludes discussion regarding the shown architecture and provides direction for future research
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