Review on Blockchain for Industry 4.0 Applications & Architecture for Effective Implementation

Abstract

Industry 4.0 is considered to one of most recent developments, and is drastically changing perception of manufacturing industries especially in the developing nations. It is essentially a synergic integration between hardware (e.g., machines) with software using internet technology so that process monitoring over entire process, and relevant data analytics to improve overall performance of process can be satisfactorily achieved. Overall implementation of Industry 4.0 will transform existing manufacturing industries into smart manufacturing. An implementation of Industry 4.0 also includes fundamentals of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), cyberphysical systems, and Internet of Things (IoT) that further focus on acquisition of various types of data from different hardware used in respective manufacturing process. The data is usually streamed to centralized server, and has challenges related to maintaining privacy as well as security. Another disruptive technology, Blockchain can be explored in implementation of IIoT, in turn, Industry 4.0 to maintain higher level of security and privacy. More than 35 research papers were reviewed for getting an insight about implementation, and related challenges faced during implementation. It was observed that specific architecture is also required for effective implementation of Blockchain in Industry 4.0 application especially connected to manufacturing domain. An architecture focused on hybrid approach that further acquires the data, streams the data to local server followed by insertion into Blockchain to avoid latency of time as well as too much financial implications on transactions.