Application of Blockchain Technology for ISA95-Compliant Traditional and Smart Manufacturing Systems
The project focus is to develop a comprehensive blockchain reference system architecture description for ISA95-CTS and SMMS activity, and to validate the applicability of such architecture.
Background
The ISA95 standard has been dominating the manufacturing industry for several years. The technological advancements imposed by Industry 4.0 (4IR) have had a disruptive effect on the legacy composition of the manufacturing industry with the inclusion of cutting-edge technologies such as cyber-physical systems, artificial intelligence, machine learning, smart manufacturing systems (SMMS), and the industrial internet of things. The heterogeneous composition of ISA95-CTS and SMMS leads to several challenges impacting the manufacturing industry in terms of interoperability, data quality, cybersecurity, and scalability in general. The manufacturing industry has struggled to overcome these obstacles that inhibit the adoption of innovative 4IR concepts and solutions.
The distinct characteristics of decentralized verifiability, transparency, end-to-end data integrity, high availability, and superior data protection features make blockchain technology (BCT) a unique technology that can be adapted to various industries, including the manufacturing industry. Several researchers have shown how BCT can be used by the manufacturing industry to overcome particular industrial challenges.
Aims and objectives
This activity, combined with preceding publications in this field, differentiates from other studies by systematically assessing the suitability of ISA95-CTS, and it proposes conceptual grounds for the adoption of BCT by the manufacturing industry. This activity also presents a comprehensive blockchain reference system architecture description for ISA95-CTS and SMMS with 40 distinct design specifications in addition to the theoretical contributions. Given the conceptual framework, this activity has also sought to validate the applicability of such architecture. Each design specification was individually examined, and a proof of concept (POC) implementation managed to analyse all and realize 31 requirements out of 40.
Project plan
Our previous studies has brought the proposed idea up to the technology readiness level (TRL) 3. Thereby, the proposal is ready for the following development cycle (TRL4-5) namely the validation of the technology in laboratory and relevant environment.
Applied interdisciplinarity
The banking sector is a traditional end user of the most advanced solution developed to increase cybersecurity and reliability of ITC infrastructure. Similar threat are now relevant for the manufacturing domain in the age of industry 4.0. This work requires the convergence of specific knowledge in advanced cybersecurity and about the context and standard in information sharing and communication within the manufacturing field. In this project inter-disciplinary cooperation means three things: 1. parallel work of experts in different field to define and describe a problem with a common language; 2 description of the requirements for a solution to the emerged issues; 3. Proposal of an architecture compliant with the needs of one field and based on tools and method from the other field.
Papers
- Empowering ISA95 compliant traditional and smart manufacturing systems with the blockchain technology. E Yalcinkaya, A Maffei, H Akillioglu, M Onori. Manufacturing review
- Blockchain suitability assessment of manufacturing functions defined by the ISA95 standard. E Yalcinkaya, A Maffei. Industrial Engineering & Management Systems 19 (4),
KTH Collaborations
Production Engineering
Duration
January 2019 –
Project participants
