Industry 4.0 – Challenges in Anti-Counterfeiting

Abstract

As part of the evolution of industrial production and automation processes referred to as industry 4.0, new developments in information technologies such as the Internet of Things and cloud computing grow together with real (physical) objects and classic industrial processes. In production processes following the Industry 4.0 approach large amounts of data are generated from RFID’s, sensors, embedded systems, the components itself to be manufactured, the machines, but also of the management and control functions of computer units. They contain information about the production process, place, time and condition of the product to be produced, even on the design documents and used materials and parts. By an unauthorized derivation of these information (in the simplest case by just observing the production facilities), the entire production process and the properties of the material produced can be disclosed. This simplifies the work of pirates and calls for new approaches to protect against counterfeiting and know-how loss.

In our work we identify new requirements on Industry 4.0 processes and production facilities. These requirements comprise both the protection of the whole production process and the usability and cost effectiveness from the different viewpoints of all stakeholders down the supply chain. We match these requirements with existing protective measures and close existing gaps. For that we develop new protocols and propose adaptations of existing processes and components.