Leveraging the Usage of Blockchain Towards Trust-Dominated Manufacturing Systems

Smart Manufacturing has elevated manufacturing processes, transitioning from automated systems to autonomous ones. This evolution has heightened the significance of data within manufacturing facilities. The role of data has evolved from solely monitoring processes to both monitoring and extracting insights from these processes, facilitating precise control. In this context, the data infrastructure plays a critical role, encompassing both internal data circulating within the facility—such as information exchanged between controllers and actuators—and external data transmitted to and from outside entities. When the factory's cyber infrastructure is connected to the internet, security concerns escalate significantly, amplifying associated risks. Therefore, the integration of such systems necessitates secured channels for data transmission and protected repositories for data storage. Addressing these challenges requires the implementation of cybersecurity measures to ensure secure data circulation within manufacturing facilities and exchanges of information with external entities. Complementarily, blockchain technology emerges as a robust solution, offering a secure repository for critical data. The implementation of such measures instills trust and confidence in the cyberinfrastructure, fostering enhanced transparency and traceability. Consequently, this elevates accountability, directly impacting and improving product quality in sectors like the pharmaceutical, aerospace, automotive and electronic industries where stringent quality standards are imperative to ensuring optimal manufacturing and handling conditions. In this regard, blockchain assumes a pivotal role in safeguarding data against tampering or removal whether it is due to external or internal corruption. Recognizing the importance of data security within the smart manufacturing realm, this thesis prioritizes the implementation of a blockchain network to host the data collected from various sources. A supply chain node will be simulated where sensors will be installed to collect information about environmental conditions. Additionally, important data will be extracted from sensors distributed among controllers and actuators in the Future Factories Laboratory located at the University of South Carolina. Additionally, a web interface will be developed allowing users to record transactions on the blockchain ledger and query the data present within the blockchain database.