IIoT implementation challenges: analysis and mitigation by blockchain

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ravinder Kumar ◽  
Rahul Sindhwani ◽  
Punj Lata Singh

Purpose The purpose of this methodology is to categorise the challenges into cause and effect group. The modern scenario of customization, personalization and multi-restrictive working because of pandemics has affected the operations of manufacturing small and medium enterprises (SMEs). In the new normal, the digitalization of manufacturing SMEs can be the path breaker. Modern digitalization includes a mix of technologies such as the industrial internet of things (IIoT), the internet of things, cyber-physical system and big data analytics. This digitalization can help in achieving new design changes, efficient production scheduling, smart manufacturing and unrestricted on-time delivery of quality products. This research paper aims to recognize and analyze the challenges faced while implementing IIoT technologies in manufacturing SMEs and tries to find the possibility of mitigating challenges by blockchain technology. Design/methodology/approach There were ten challenges of IIoT implementation identified from the literature review and experts’ opinions. To collect information from Indian manufacturing SMEs, a survey tool was formed in the form of a questionnaire. On the fundament of responses received from industrial experts, the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) technique has been used for categorizing these challenges into cause and effect groups. Further, the authors tried to mitigate observed challenges with the help of blockchain technology. Findings With the implementation of IIoT technologies, the manufacturing processes become conciliatory, effective and traceable in real time. Observation of the current study states that the top effect group challenges such as the security of data and reliability of technologies can be mitigated by enabling blockchain technologies. The authors conclude that blockchain-enabled IIoT technologies will be highly beneficial for the Indian SMEs strategically and practically in the current scenario. Research limitations/implications Methodology of DEMATEL focuses on responses received from experts. The broader approach of survey from manufacturing organizations is compromised due to small sample size in this methodology. Experts approached for survey were from manufacturing SMEs of Delhi National Capital Region only. Broader survey-based techniques may be applied covering different sectors of SMEs in future work. Practical implications Technologies such as blockchain can facilitate advanced security in the application of IIoT and other such practices. While dealing with significant issues and challenges of new technologies, blockchain gives an edge of balance in the current scenario. Its properties of fixity, temper evident and circumvent fraud make this technology ideal for the digitalization of the manufacturing systems in SMEs. Originality/value Digitalization of manufacturing facilities is the need of the hour. Pandemic challenges have highlighted the urgency of it. This research will motivate and guide the manufacturing SMEs in planning strategies and long-term policies in implementing modern technologies and coping up with the pandemic challenges.

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 5495
Author(s):  
Mihai Andronie ◽  
George Lăzăroiu ◽  
Roxana Ștefănescu ◽  
Cristian Uță ◽  
Irina Dijmărescu

With growing evidence of the operational performance of cyber-physical manufacturing systems, there is a pivotal need for comprehending sustainable, smart, and sensing technologies underpinning data-driven decision-making processes. In this research, previous findings were cumulated showing that cyber-physical production networks operate automatically and smoothly with artificial intelligence-based decision-making algorithms in a sustainable manner and contribute to the literature by indicating that sustainable Internet of Things-based manufacturing systems function in an automated, robust, and flexible manner. Throughout October 2020 and April 2021, a quantitative literature review of the Web of Science, Scopus, and ProQuest databases was performed, with search terms including “Internet of Things-based real-time production logistics”, “sustainable smart manufacturing”, “cyber-physical production system”, “industrial big data”, “sustainable organizational performance”, “cyber-physical smart manufacturing system”, and “sustainable Internet of Things-based manufacturing system”. As research published between 2018 and 2021 was inspected, and only 426 articles satisfied the eligibility criteria. By taking out controversial or ambiguous findings (insufficient/irrelevant data), outcomes unsubstantiated by replication, too general material, or studies with nearly identical titles, we selected 174 mainly empirical sources. Further developments should entail how cyber-physical production networks and Internet of Things-based real-time production logistics, by use of cognitive decision-making algorithms, enable the advancement of data-driven sustainable smart manufacturing.


2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Soojeen Jang ◽  
Yanghon Chung ◽  
Hosung Son

PurposeThrough the resource-based view (RBV) and contingency theory, this study empirically investigates the impacts of smart manufacturing systems' maturity levels on the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Moreover, it aims to examine how industry types (i.e. high- and low-tech industries) and human-resource factors (i.e. the proportion of production workers to total workers) as contingency factors influence the effects of smart manufacturing systems.Design/methodology/approachThe study conducted an empirical investigation of a sample of 163 Korean manufacturing SMEs. This study used an ordinary least squares regression to examine the impacts of the maturity levels of smart manufacturing systems on financial performance. Moreover, the impacts on operational efficiency were analysed using data envelopment analysis based on bootstrap methods and Tobit regression.FindingsThe RBV results indicate that the higher the maturity levels of smart manufacturing systems, the higher the financial performance and operational efficiency. Moreover, based on contingency theory, this study reveals that the effect of the maturity levels of smart manufacturing systems on financial performance and operational efficiency depends on firms' industry types and the proportion of production workers.Research limitations/implicationsThis study shows that the introduction of smart manufacturing systems can help SMEs achieve better financial performance and operational efficiency. However, their effectiveness is contingent on firms' industry types and the characteristics of their human resources.Practical implicationsSince the effects of the maturity levels of smart manufacturing systems on SME performance differ depending on their industries and the characteristics of human resources, managers need to consider them when introducing or investing in smart manufacturing systems.Originality/valueBased on the RBV and contingency theory, this is the first empirical study to examine the moderating effects of industry types and the proportion of production workers on the impacts of the maturity levels of smart manufacturing systems on the financial performance and operational efficiency of SMEs.


foresight ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Hugo Hoffmann

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to offer a panoramic view at the credibility issues that exist within social sciences research. Design/methodology/approach The central argument of this paper is that a joint effort between blockchain and other technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning and how they can prevent scientific data manipulation or data forgery as a way to make science more decentralized and anti-fragile, without losing data integrity or reputation as a trade-off. The authors address it by proposing an online research platform for use in social and behavioral science that guarantees data integrity through a combination of modern institutional economics and blockchain technology. Findings The benefits are mainly twofold: On the one hand, social science scholars get paired with the right target audience for their studies. On the other hand, a snapshot of the gathered data at the time of creation is taken so that researchers can prove that they used the original data set to peers in the future while maintaining full control of their data. Originality/value The proposed combination of behavioral economics with new technologies such as blockchain and AI is novel and translated into a cutting-edge tool to be implemented.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 2897
Author(s):  
Raffaele Cioffi ◽  
Marta Travaglioni ◽  
Giuseppina Piscitelli ◽  
Antonella Petrillo ◽  
Adele Parmentola

Smart manufacturing is considered as a new paradigm that makes work smarter and more connected, bringing speed and flexibility through the introduction of digital innovation. Today, digital innovation is closely linked to the “sustainability” of companies. Digital innovation and sustainability are two inseparable principles that are based on the concept of circular economy. Digital innovation enables a circular economy model, promoting the use of solutions like digital platforms, smart devices, and artificial intelligence that help to optimize resources. Thus, the purpose of the research is to present a systematic literature review on what enabling technologies can promote new circular business models. A total of 31 articles were included in the study. Our results showed that realization of the circular economy involved two main changes: (i) managerial changes and (ii) legislative changes. Furthermore, the creation of the circular economy can certainly be facilitated by innovation, especially through the introduction of new technologies and through the introduction of digital innovations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 1883-1908 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santosh B. Rane ◽  
Yahya Abdul Majid Narvel

Purpose Blockchain and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies have recently gained much attention for Industry 4.0. With the emergence of disruptive technologies, it has become essential to redesign the business for innovations based on blockchain–IoT integrated architecture that helps organizations to improve agility in their operations. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach An industrial pump was Sensorized and IoTized to monitor its operations on real time and take predictive measures for managing these assets with more agility. The developed architecture was further extended for proposing the use of blockchain and how it can benefit the organization. Findings The known features of blockchain such as increasing the capacity of decentralization, trust-less transactions, security and allowing autonomous coordination of the devices along with the boons of IoT will help achieve the motto of improving agility in Industry 4.0. Originality/value This paper gives a new dimension to utilization of blockchain technology. blockchain along with IoT that gives a way forward for industries like manufacturing, oil and gas, engineering and construction, utilities, etc. to re-designing the business organization in a more agile way.


2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Volker Skwarek

Purpose This paper aims to describe a method for Internet-of-Things-devices to achieve industrial grade reliability for information transfer from wireless sensor systems to production systems using blockchain technologies. Design/methodology/approach An increased security and reliability of submitted data within the sensor network could be achieved on an application level. Therefore, a lightweight, high-level communication protocol based on blockchain principles was designed. Findings Blockchain mechanisms can secure the wireless communication of Internet-of-Things-devices in a lightweight and scalable manner. Originality/value The innovation of this research is the successful application of general blockchain mechanisms to increase security of a wireless sensor system without binding to a dedicated blockchain technology.


Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (22) ◽  
pp. 6456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erkan Yalcinkaya ◽  
Antonio Maffei ◽  
Mauro Onori

The next-generation technologies enabled by the industry 4.0 revolution put immense pressure on traditional ISA95 compliant manufacturing systems to evolve into smart manufacturing systems. Unfortunately, the transformation of old to new manufacturing technologies is a slow process. Therefore, the manufacturing industry is currently in a situation that the legacy and modern manufacturing systems share the same factory environment. This heterogeneous ecosystem leads to challenges in systems scalability, interoperability, information security, and data quality domains. Our former research effort concluded that blockchain technology has promising features to address these challenges. Moreover, our systematic assessment revealed that most of the ISA95 enterprise functions are suitable for applying blockchain technology. However, no blockchain reference architecture explicitly focuses on the ISA95 compliant traditional and smart manufacturing systems available in the literature. This research aims to fill the gap by first methodically specifying the design requirements and then meticulously elaborating on how the reference architecture components fulfill the design requirements.


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 573-573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yohichi Nakao ◽  
Hayato Yoshioka

With the 2011 launch of Industrie 4.0, a German project aiming to promote the computerization of manufacturing, the integration of physical or actual manufacturing systems with cyber-physical systems (CPS) using various technologies, such as the Internet of things (IoT), industrial Internet of things (IIOT), and artificial intelligence, is considered to be more important than ever before. One of the goals of the Industrie 4.0 is to realize smart factories or smart manufacturing using advanced digital technologies. However, the core component in the manufacturing systems is still machine tools. This special issue, composed of eleven excellent research papers, focuses on the latest research advances in machine tools and manufacturing processes. It covers various topics, including machine tool control, tool path generation for multi-axis machining, and machine tool components. Furthermore, this special issue includes innovative machining technologies, including not only cutting and grinding processes but also the EDM process and burnishing process connected effectively with force control techniques. All the research contributions were presented at IMEC2018, a joint event with JIMTOF2018, held in Tokyo, Japan in 2018. The editors would like to sincerely thank the authors for their dedication and for their well written and illustrated manuscripts. We are also profoundly grateful for the efforts of all the reviewers who ensured their quality. Finally, we sincerely hope that studies on machine tools and related manufacturing technologies will further contribute to the development of our global society.


Subject Blockchain is transforming the insurance sector. Significance Insurers are turning to disruptive new technologies to facilitate the management of risks within their organisation and across the industry. Blockchain technology can cut through the complexity surrounding asymmetric information that has hindered the sector. Impacts In November 2016, the Financial Stability Board said it is assessing the likely impacts of blockchain technology on financial stability. In partnership with a private firm, the Bank of England has built a model with smart contracts to test different applications of blockchain. A Deloitte survey of 300 US firms found that 10% had invested 10 million dollars or more in blockchain, though 39% knew little about it.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anilkumar Malaga ◽  
S. Vinodh

PurposeThe purpose of the article is to report a study on evaluation of smart manufacturing (SM) performance using a grey theory-based approach.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 30 criteria and 79 attributes for SM performance have been developed. A grey theory-based approach has been used for SM performance evaluation. The grey index has been calculated, and weaker areas have been derived. Performance level of SM has been evaluated using the Euclidean distance approach.FindingsThe SM performance index is found to be (3.036, 12.296). The ideal grey performance importance index (GPII) is obtained as (3.025, 4.875). The level of visibility and traceability, vertical integration, lead time and configuration data espionage and control ability are strong performing attributes. Integration abilities of services and manufacturing systems, ability of self-control, worker and raw material productivity, collaboration among buyers and suppliers and dynamic scheduling are identified as weaker areas, and suggestions for improvement have been derived. SM performance level has been identified as “Good.”Research limitations/implicationsAdditional performance measures could be included as a part of evaluation. Practitioners can overcome weaker areas in the early phase. Management achieves confidence and practitioners attain success in implementation of SM in industry through the developed SM performance indexing system.Originality/valueIdentification of SM performance measures and analysis of SM performance is the original contribution of the authors. The developed approach assists practitioners and managers to focus more on specific areas for performance improvement.


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