Skip to main content

Blockchain and Industry 4.0: Overview, Convergence, and Analysis

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Blockchain Technology for Industry 4.0

Abstract

As a consequence of the upcoming fourth Industrial Revolution, also known as Industry 4.0 (Industry 4.0), new disruptive technologies are being considered to be incorporated in the factory environment. One of these solutions are the Blockchain, which aims to integrate heterogeneous systems, manage commercial transactions and foster the assets’ traceability. Thus, this technology contributes to create a whole optimized supply chain that can impact in the global market. This chapter exposes the convergence of Blockchain and Industry 4.0. In this way, academical, commercial, and governmental initiatives are explored to present examples of what is currently being proposed, fostered and developed. In addition, a critical analysis covers the aspects of how these technologies can be synergically and efficiently integrated in a future society and industrial environment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. Industrial revolution | definition, facts, & summary. https://www.britannica.com/event/Industrial-Revolution. Last accessed 5 Mar. 2019

  2. The power behind the Industrial Revolution. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/4750891/The-power-behind-the-Industrial-Revolution.html. Last accessed 5 Mar. 2019

  3. Vale R. Second industrial revolution: The Technological Revolution—RVA. http://richmondvale.org/second-industrial-revolution/. Last accessed 5 Mar. 2019

  4. The third industrial revolution. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/dem/monitor/sites/default/files/DTM_Industrie%204.0.pdf. Last accessed 5 Mar. 2019

  5. European Commission. Germany: Industry 4.0. https://www.economist.com/node/21553017. Last accessed 6 Mar. 2019

  6. BMWi. What is Industry 4.0? https://www.plattform-i40.de/I40/Navigation/EN/Industrie40/WhatIsIndustrie40/what-is-industrie40.html. Last accessed 6 Mar. 2019

  7. Executive Office of the President, National Science and Technology Council, Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office and et al. National Network for Manufacturing Innovation Program Strategic Plan. https://www.manufacturingusa.com/resources/national-network-manufacturing-innovation-nnmi-program-strategic-plan. Last accessed 6 Mar. 2019

  8. Sylvia X. Liu. Innovation design: made in China 2025. https://doi.org/10.1111/drev.10349. Last accessed 6 Mar. 2019

  9. Kshetri N. Overview of blockchain as the engine of the 4th industrial revolution. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326131510. Last accessed 18 Mar. 2019

  10. Kapitonov A, Berman I, Lonshakov S, Krupenkin A (2018) Blockchain based protocol for economical communication in Industry 4.0. In: 2018 Crypto valley conference on blockchain technology (CVCBT), pp 41–44. https://doi.org/10.1109/CVCBT.2018.00010

  11. Al-Jaroodi J, Mohamed N (2019) Blockchain in Industries: a survey. IEEE Access 7:36500–36515. ISSN: 2519-1381. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2019.2903554

  12. Abadi FA, Ellul J, Azzopardi G (2017) The blockchain of things, beyond bitcoin: a systematic review. Mara Res J Bus Manag 1(1):125-135. ISSN: 2519-1381. https://business.mrjournals.org/index.php/business/article/view/7. Last accessed 15 Mar. 2019

  13. Ahram T, Sargolzaei A, Sargolzaei S, Daniels J, Amaba B (2017) Blockchain technology innovations. In: 2017 IEEE Technology engineering management conference (TEMSCON), pp 137–141. https://doi.org/10.1109/TEMSCON.2017.7998367

  14. Kshetri N (2018) 1 Blockchain’s roles in meeting key supply chain management objectives. Int J Inf Manag 39:80–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2017.12.005

  15. Galveza JF, Mejutob JC, Simal-Gandarac J (2018) Future challenges on the use of blockchain for food traceability analysis. Trends Anal Chem 107:222–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trac.2018.08.011

  16. Fu B, Shu Z, Liu X (2018) Blockchain enhanced emission trading framework in fashion apparel manufacturing industry. Sustainability 10:1105. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10041105

  17. Holland M, Stjepandić J, Nigischer C (2018) Intellectual property protection of 3D print supply chain with blockchain technology. In: 2018 IEEE International conference on engineering, technology and innovation (ICE/ITMC), pp 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICE.2018.8436315

  18. Lonshakov S, Krupenkin A, Radchenko E, Starostin A (2018) Robonomics: platform for integration of cyber physical systems into human economy. https://robonomics.network/robonomics_white_paper_en.pdf. Last accessed 15 Mar. 2019

  19. Seitz A, Henze D, Miehle D, Bruegge B, Nickles J, Sauer M (2018) Fog computing as enabler for blockchain-based IIoT app marketplaces—a case study. In: 2018 Fifth international conference on internet of things: systems, management and security, pp 182–188. https://doi.org/10.1109/IoTSMS.2018.8554484

  20. Sikorski JJ, Haughton J, Kraft M (2017) Blockchain technology in the chemical industry: machine-to-machine electricity market. Appl Energy 195:234–246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.03.039

  21. Fraga-Lamas P, Fernández-Caramés TM (2019) A review on blockchain technologies for an advanced and cyber-resilient automotive industry. IEEE Access 7:17578–17598. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2019.2895302

  22. Viriyasitavat W, Da Xu L, Bi Z, Sapsomboon A (2018) Blockchain-based business process management (BPM) framework for service composition in industry 4.0. J Intell Manufact 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10845-018-1422-y

  23. IBM. IBM blockchain platform. https://www.ibm.com/blockchain/platform. Last accessed 19 Apr. 2019

  24. IBM. IBM blockchain platform technical overview. https://www.ibm.com/downloads/cas/Q9DGBLV7. Last accessed 19 Apr. 2019

  25. IBM. IBM blockchain for supply chain. https://www.ibm.com/blockchain/in-dustries/supply-chain. Last accessed 19 Apr. 2019

  26. TradeLens solution brief: edition one. https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/4989579/TradeLens%20Solution%20Brief:%20Edition%20One.pdf. Last accessed 19 Apr. 2019

  27. IBM blockchain. https://www.ibm.com/downloads/cas/1VBZEPYL. Last accessed 19 Apr. 2019

  28. The VeChain platform. https://www.investinblockchain.com/what-is-vechain/. Last accessed 20 Apr. 2019

  29. Development plan and whitepaper. https://www.vechain.org. Last accessed 20 Apr. 2019

  30. Barclay Bram. In China, bitcoin mining moguls are scrambling to survive. https://www.wired.co.uk/article/bitcoin-mining-china-ban-crypto-cryptocurrency-wechat. Last accessed 15 Apr. 2019

  31. Gartner. Gartner hype cycle. https://www.gartner.com/en/research/methodo-logies/gartner-hype-cycle. Last accessed 3 Apr. 2019

  32. Gartner. 5 Trends emerge in the Gartner hype cycle for emerging technologies (2018). https://www.gartner.com/smarterwithgartner/5-trends-emerge-in-gartner-hype-cycle-for-emerging-technologies-2018/. Last accessed 3 Apr. 2019

  33. Nakamoto S (2008) Bitcoin: a peer-to-peer electronic cash system

    Google Scholar 

  34. Buterin V. Ethereum: a next-generation smart contract and decentralized application platform. https://github.com/ethereum/wiki/wiki/White-Paper, 2013

  35. Gatteschi V, Lamberti F, Demartini C, Pranteda C, Santamaria V (2018) To blockchain or not to blockchain: that is the question. IT Prof 20(2):62–74 Mar

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Satoshi Nakamoto Institute. Re: transactions and scripts: dup hash160 \(\ldots \) equalverify checksig. https://satoshi.nakamotoinstitute.org/posts/bitcointalk/126/#selection-69.0-117.41

  37. Szabo N. The idea of smart contracts. [Online]. https://nakamotoinstitute.org/the-idea-of-smart-contracts/

  38. Falkon S (2017) The story of the dao—its history and consequences, Dec 2017. [Online]. https://medium.com/swlh/the-story-ofthe-dao-its-history-and-consequences-71e6a8a551ee

  39. Greenspan G. Beware the impossible smart contract. April 2016. https://www.multichain.com/blog/2016/04/beware-impossible-smart-contract/

  40. Greenspan G. The blockchain immutability myth. [Online]. https://www.multichain.com/blog/2017/05/blockchainimmutability-myth/

  41. Massessi D. Public vs private blockchain in a nutshell. Dec 2018

    Google Scholar 

  42. Available: https://medium.com/coinmonks/public-vs-privateblockchain-in-a-nutshell-c9fe284fa39f

  43. O’Connell J. What are the use cases for private blockchains? the experts weigh in, Jun 2016. [Online]. https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/what-are-the-use-casesfor-private-blockchains-the-experts-weigh-in-1466440884/

  44. Buterin V (2015) On public and private blockchains, Aug 2015. [Online]. https://blog.ethereum.org/2015/08/07/on-public-and-privateblockchains/

  45. Adler J (2018) The state of decentralized oracles, Sep 2018. [Online]. https://media.consensys.net/the-state-of-decentralizedoracles-df45bf0dc51d?gi=5e5fbeb10dfc

  46. Rodriguez J (2018) The middleman of trust: the oracle paradox and five protocols that can Bring external data into the blockchain, Jul 2018. https://hackernoon.com/the-middleman-of-trust-the-oracle-paradox-and-five-protocols-that-can-bring-external-data-into-the-df39b63e92ae?gi=78ef49cc08ea

  47. Zheng Z, Xie S, Dai H, Chen X, Wang H (2017) An overview of blockchain technology: architecture, consensus, and future trends. In: 2017 IEEE international congress on big data (BigData Congress), pp 557–564

    Google Scholar 

  48. Greenspan G. Private blockchains are more than “just” shared databases. [Online]. https://www.multichain.com/blog/2015/10/private-blockchains-shared-databases/

  49. Schwartz D, Youngs N, Britto A. The ripple protocol consensus algorithm. https://www.ripple.com/files/ripple_consensus_whitepaper.pdf/

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thiago Bueno da Silva .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Silva, T.B.d., Morais, E.S.d., Almeida, L.F.F.d., Rosa Righi, R.d., Alberti, A.M. (2020). Blockchain and Industry 4.0: Overview, Convergence, and Analysis. In: Rosa Righi, R., Alberti, A., Singh, M. (eds) Blockchain Technology for Industry 4.0. Blockchain Technologies. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1137-0_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1137-0_2

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-15-1136-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-15-1137-0

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics