Blockchain Mergence and Reconditioning Blockchain to Enable Global Supply Chain Assurance

Abstract

Distributed ledger technology such as blockchain could ideally be used to solve challenges in global supply chain assurance. In blockchain, consensus is achieved among active concurrent participants. The chain is, by design, required to be a single forward-building path of events; if branches appear, the chain consensus ensures that all but one branch is discarded. A supply chain in comparison, particularly on the production side, is a reversed architecture. In this case, small parts are used to build larger parts, hence requiring blockchain mergence (e.g., a final ready-for-use vehicle is comprised of multiple smaller parts sourced from various vendors, manufacturers, and even countries). Thus, the current capabilities of blockchain do not meet the fundamental demands of supply chains. Assuring supply chain integrity and visibility requires an adaptation of the technology to allow a form of blockchain mergence that the original concept was not designed to handle. This research looks at a possible solution among hash chains, blockchain, and ledger options for supply chain strategy.