Abstract To reduce emissions in the maritime transport sector, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) follows a global clean shipping strategy. Among the different directives of IMO, currently especially the sulphur emission regulations pose challenges for the shipping industry. Related to this are the established Sulphur Emission Control Areas (SECAs) and the introduced global sulphur cap. To comply with the sulphur restrictions, according to the present technological state of the art, ship-owners have three options for their existing fleet: the installation of emission abatement technologies, the switch to low sulphur fuels, or retrofitting for the usage of alternative fuels. Regardless which option is favoured, most often selected solutions still depend on fossil fuels. The reasons for this can be traced back to the fact that supply of biofuels is not ensured in ports and generally seen as no profitable solution. This paper develops and examines an innovative business model with a special focus on liquefied biogas (LBG). The study bases on collected qualitative and quantitative data, which was used by applying the Business Model Canvas. The results will highlight that the business model bears the potential to promote LBG supply. Next to this, the research will show that blockchain and smart contracts are able to foster the implementation of the business model and optimisation of value chain operations. Lastly, economic advantages were highlighted within a case study that refers to the seaport Karlskrona in Sweden and the RoPax ferries from Stena Line that travel back and forth to Gdynia seaport in Poland.
In this paper, a new digital business model for independent construction logistics consultants, which features the conceptualization of a sociomaterial blockchain solution for integrated information, material and economic flows, is proposed. Theoretically, we offer an understanding of the economic flow, stress the optimization of construction logistics through flow integration, analyse current approaches to understanding blockchain, adopt sociomateriality to envision a suitable blockchain solution, and consider the way blockchain can constitute part of the value proposition of a related digital business model. Methodologically, we systematically reviewed the literature on blockchain-related construction research, and conducted empirical studies on independent logistics consultants in the Swedish context for more than a year. On the one hand, the literature review reveals that core blockchain properties can generate value for construction logistics (e.g. shared ledger structure and reduction of accounting rework) â however, apart from visions and prototypes, there currently exist no use cases, and potential implementational constraints and security issues are limitedly considered. One the other hand, the empirical findings show that independent construction logistics consultants in the sociomaterial Swedish context are suitable candidates for the proposed digital business model. By combining the literature and empirical insights, a permissioned private proof-of-authority blockchain solution integrating the supply chain flows in a generic sociomaterial setting is conceptualized. This solution is then embedded in the value proposition of a digital business model for an independent construction logistics consultant. The proposition includes, among others, improved process management and increased productivity, while the consultantsâ competitive advantage through innovation is facilitated. Other business model segments, like key resources, are also updated via the blockchain solution, while some, like channels, are not significantly affected. To not hinder the realization of this digital business model, issues like the lack of blockchain awareness, and the existing power balances within sociomaterial constellations, have to be addressed.
Daeheon Choi, Chune Young Chung, Thou Seyha, Jason Young
From a supply chain perspective, new technologies such as blockchain can improve the efficiency and competitiveness of logistics and increase customer satisfaction. Although blockchain technology has been lauded as a way for firms to build sustainable supply chain networks, the rate of acceptance of this technology remains low. Therefore, this study seeks to identify the factors that discourage firms from merging blockchain with the supply chain. Instead of providing further reasons for adopting blockchain technology, we try to understand what deters firms from adding blockchain to their operations. Following the deductive approach, a confirmatory factor analysis is conducted on pre-test questionnaires to test, improve, and verify the constructs (questions) to measure the hypothesized factors. A theoretical model is proposed based on the hypotheses, and structural equation modeling is applied. The results are estimated using the partial least squares approach and a sample of 83 respondents. Our findings based on our empirical data support most of our hypotheses. We find that various factors impede the adoption of blockchain technologies, including technological barriers, constraints rooted in organizations and the environment, and system-related governmental barriers. In addition, various factors are critical determinants of resistance to blockchain in the technological, organizational, and environmental dimensions.
The building workers sector is one of the most challenging for Human Resources (HR) management. In this work we propose a solution relying on the Blockchain technology and present the design of a Blockchain-Oriented Software system conceived for managing the building workers sector with a focus on workers' safety and guided by sustainable and Agile Methodologies in software design. The proposed approach takes advantage of different features of the Blockchain technology and provides transparency for labour inspectors, grants data integrity and immutability, relies in tamper proof time stamps for any recorded activity, allows the implementation of Smart Contracts where clauses are automatically respected without the need of a trusted control authority, acknowledges the legal requirements in the field, including the possibility of creating the Operational Safety Plans, which construction companies have to provide and finally implements the creation of vacant job positions which workers can find and apply to. In order to achieve these goals we adopt the Blockchain-Oriented Software Engineering (BOSE) methodology to design Blockchain software applications and apply an Agile methodology centered on Blockchain Software development, (called ABCDE) for the design and development of the decentralized application. Such methodology allows to center the software development around the actors of the system in the specific domain, such as Building Workers, Construction Companies, Labour Inspectors and so on. In addition we rely on the software sustainability analysis, based on the five dimensions of sustainability, to evaluate the approach and to avoid mistakes in the system development. We design system elements with specific diagrams and we divided our system in the on-chain and the out-of-chain components. The implementation of the system, done by using Ethereum and the ERC721 standard, allows us to improve some aspect of the design, to know the deployment and usage costs, and to evaluate the effect of the user interface. Finally, we discuss about the effects of our system and its sustainability, and provide a comparison of our system with a similar per aims but centralized system.
Purpose The purpose of this study is to identify and prioritize the factors that can positively influence the implementation of a blockchain-based supply chain via an integrated framework. To the best of the authors' knowledge, no previous study has focused on prioritizing these factors. Design/methodology/approach First, this study conducts a multivocal literature review, and a total of 48 success factors (SFs) are identified and mapped into 11 categories. Second, the identified success factors and their categories are further validated by industry practitioners using a questionnaire survey approach. Finally, this study applies an analytical hierarchy process to prioritize the identified SFs and their categories and to assess their importance for successful blockchain implementation in the supply chain management process. Findings The âAccessibilityâ category has the highest importance, and the âOverall efficiencyâ category has the second highest rank. As far as the success factors are concerned, âTrackabilityâ and âTraceabilityâ are considered to be the prime success factors of a blockchain-based supply chain. The taxonomy of the categories and their success factors provide an outline for supply chain organizations to establish a strategy to implement blockchain technology. Practical implications This technology can be practically applied in a sustainable supply chain. Another vital application of this blockchain technology is in banking and finance because of the blockchain's immutable data recording property. Originality/value To the best of the authors' knowledge, there is no previous study focused on building a taxonomic model that allows supply chain organizations to compare this paper's model with existing models and outline the necessary actions to improve supply chain activities. The questionnaire-based survey developed to validate the success factors in real-world practices and the factors' prioritization can help academic researchers and industrial practitioners to set their strategic goals accordingly.
Bill Tomlinson, Jens Boberg, Jocelyn Cranefield, David Johnstone · 7 authors
Proponents of âBlockchain for Goodâ â blockchain efforts seeking to enable benefits to humans and the environment â have suggested that the technology can support sustainability. However, while previous research has addressed aspects of the sustainability affordances of Blockchain for Good projects, the constraints that these projects impose have not faced equal consideration. Furthermore, the theoretical concepts of sustainability âproblemsâ and âsolutionsâ implicit in these projects have not been made clear. In this exploratory study, we evaluate the sustainability of 28 Blockchain for Good projects that use cryptocurrencies or tradable tokens with regard to the UN sustainability goals. These projects span a range of goals, such as supply chain tracking, transparent charity, and fairer voting. Despite their admirable goals, we find that current Blockchain for Good projects are unlikely to contribute to a sustainable future due to technical limitations and a conceptual framing that favors the status quo rather than transformative change.
Jinying Li, Ananda Maiti, Matthew Springer, Tony Gray
In global Supply Chain Quality Management (SCQM), there are methods to ensure continuity of supply, at appropriate prices while meeting quality standards. But they are limited by the large and fallible role of humans, especially in manufacturing and quality control. Open Manufacturing aims to establish an open network of manufacturers that enables product information sharing among others in the production chain. Realizing the goals of open manufacturing requires processing the large datasets inherent to the production chain partners. But it is difficult to comply with the trust and privacy requirements of the suppliers in a supply chain. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of blockchain and its current and potential use in the industrial context including Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)-based sensor networks, and the impact of the blockchain technology in manufacturing related areas such as traceability. The focus of this paper is on a potential application of blockchain in SCQM with detailed analysis of its technical feasibility and the methods of transitioning between the current approaches to a blockchain-oriented platform. An innovative use of blockchain to store referral information is also discussed. The survey concludes that blockchain along with IIoT can improve SCQM in an Open Manufacturing model.
Shaker Atyan K Alharthi, Paul Cerotti, Shaghayegh Maleki Far
The main aim of this study is to explore the role of blockchain technology in the sustainability and effectiveness of the pharmaceutical supply chain in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The objectives of this study are: to explore the opportunities for the blockchain technology to address the existing problems in the pharmaceutical supply chain; to uncover the barriers and challenges of blockchain adoption and implementation; to develop guidelines for a successful implementation of blockchain in the context of Saudi Arabia; and to investigate the perceptions of professionals about the impact of blockchain adoption in the pharmaceutical supply chain sector. The researchers have identified issues surrounding the lack of integration of IT systems in the healthcare systems in KSA. Further problems have been identified: such as medication shortage, lack of coordination among healthcare stakeholders, product wastage and lack of medication demand information. Blockchain, as a distributed digital ledger technology which ensures transparency, traceability and security, is considered as a promise for easing some supply chain management problems. The evaluation of the impact of 'Technology, Organisation, Environment' (TOE) theory, will provide a clear picture to comprehend the influence of these factors on the sustainability of the supply chain, and thus the supply chain effectiveness. This study provides a theoretical model for the impact of blockchain implementation on the sustainability and effectiveness of the pharmaceutical supply chain. Researchers highlighted issues in the current management of the pharmaceutical supply chain and explained how blockchain can be used to solve these problems and how blockchain can address and support the sustainability of supply chains. While the technology of blockchain is definitely in its infancy, the researchers have already seen success in its everyday deployment, especially in the pharmaceutical and financial sectors.
Various perishable agricultural products are recalled due to harmful health risks. Blockchain has been used to reduce the amount of such products wasted and disposed. Specifically, a supply chain with a wholesaler, a retailer, and customers is considered where the retailer decides when to switch from a conventional supply chain information management system (SCIMS) to a blockchain-based SCIMS. This article models the uncertain customers' demand as a geometric Brownian motion process and shows how to obtain the optimal demand threshold above which the switch occurs and the corresponding expected time. Next, the model is extended by incorporating two types of government subsidies (i.e., a fixed subsidy on the switching cost and a variable subsidy per unit demand). Through sensitivity analysis and numerical studies, the impacts of key parameters on the optimal demand threshold and expected time of switching are presented. Finally, managerial insights and policy implications are derived.
Pardis Pishdad-Bozorgi, Jong Han Yoon, Nishant Dass
In the supply chain, information sharing is critical for facilitating decision making, accelerating the schedule, reducing costs, and enhancing the final quality of the project. However, information sharing is challenging in the construction supply chain when information asymmetry could help certain individuals avoid liability or help others maximize their profits by using substandard materials. In this environment, the stakeholders may not truly trust one another and may be reluctant to share complete information. Even though several studies have emphasized the importance of trust for information sharing, few studies have focused on promoting trust and verifying information using technology. The purpose of this paper is to examine the potential of Blockchain technology for establishing a trust-enhanced environment with distributed trust that will benefit the construction supply chain. This paper presents three logical scenarios for the application of Blockchain technology in information-sharing systems in order to demonstrate that the technology helps establish a trust-enhanced environment for reliable information sharing while eliminating counterfeiting and reducing bullwhip effect. These scenarios will demonstrate the value of Blockchain-based information sharing in the construction supply chain and possibly provide direction for future research with greater depth and specificity.
Through a systematic review of publications in reputed peer-reviewed journals, this paper investigates the role of blockchain technology in sustainable supply chain management. It uses the What, Who, Where, When, How, and Why (5W+1H) pattern to formulate research objectives and questions. The review considers publications since 2015, and it includes 187 papers published in 2017, 2018, 2019, and the early part of 2020, since no significant publications were found in the year 2015 or 2016 on this subject. It proposes a reusable classification frameworkâemerging technology literature classification level (ETLCL) frameworkâbased on grounded theory and the technology readiness level for conducting literature reviews in various focus areas of an emerging technology. Subsequently, the study uses ETLCL to classify the literature on our focus area. The results show traceability and transparency as the key benefits of applying blockchain technology. They also indicate a heightened interest in blockchain-based information systems for sustainable supply chain management starting since 2017. This paper offers invaluable insights for managers and leaders who envision sustainability as an essential component of their business. The findings demonstrate the disruptive power and role of blockchain-based information systems. Given the relative novelty of the topic and its scattered literature, the paper helps practitioners examining its various aspects by directing them to the right information sources.
This study investigates the importance of the determinants affecting the adoption and usage of blockchain-based SCM systems in the context of organizations. Hence, an SLR method was followed to uncover critical determinants in the literature. Then, a research model, including 14 key determinants, was developed based on the TOE Framework. Subsequently, the AHP method was applied to rank the adoption determinants. The findings reveal that environment-related determinants are more critical than technology-related or organization-related determinants.
Roman ZeiĂ, Anne Ixmeier, Jan Recker, Johann Kranz
Abstract One of today's grand societal challenges is to replace the current âtakeâmakeâwasteâ economic model with a circular economic model that allows a gradual decoupling of economic activities from the consumption of finite virgin resources. While circular economy (CE) scholars have long lauded digital technologies such as sensors, distributed ledgers, or platforms as key enablers, our own community has not fully explored the potentials of information systems (IS) for a CE. Considering recent technological advances in software and hardware and our history of helping address wicked challenges, we believe the time is ripe to mobilise IS scholarship for a CE. Our findings from an interdisciplinary literature review show that research has primarily examined IS potentials for increasing efficiency of isolated intraâorganisational processes while neglecting the larger sustainability potential of IS to establish circular material flowsâthat is, slow down and close material loops across entire product lifecycles. In response, we propose directions for IS research that develop our knowledge of how IS can help understand and enact circular material flows to intensify and extend use of products and components and recycle waste materials. Our directions offer pathways to building and evaluating the problemâsolution pairing that could characterise a prolific CEâIS relationship.
Muhandiramge Rodrigo, Srinath Perera, Sepani Senaratne, Xiaohua Jin
Carbon emissions are categorised as Embodied Carbon (EC) occurring in the production phase and Operational Carbon (OC) occurring in the operational phase of buildings. The current focus on producing zero-carbon buildings, emphasises reducing OC and ignores the importance of reducing EC emissions. This study focuses on EC. Methods available in EC estimating currently produce estimates that often do not complement each other. This makes it important to develop a robust and accurate methodology for estimating EC. Blockchain is an emerging technology that has significant potential for transaction processing in supply chains. The construction industry being the second least digitalised industry, the adoption of innovative technologies is predominantly important. This paper explores the potential application of blockchain for accurate estimation of EC in construction supply chains. A detailed literature review and expert interviews revealed that, compared to traditional information systems, blockchain systems could eliminate issues in EC estimating highlighting its potential credible application for EC estimating. Scalability was identified as a feature that was lacking in a blockchain system, however, for EC estimating, its impact was identified as minimal. It will be difficult to generalise the findings of the study due to interview based qualitative methodology adopted in this study along with the fact that blockchain is an emerging and fairly new technology. However, a similar process could be followed by other studies to compare blockchain with traditional information systems, to evaluate the suitability of blockchain technology to develop prototype systems.
This study assesses supplier selection at the beginning of project management to establish an evaluation system corresponding to blockchain tracing anti-counterfeiting platforms (BTAP). First, this paper determines 20 evaluation criteria from the four dimensions of platform overview, core technology, application support, and operations management. On this basis, multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) based on customer needs is proposed, which consists of three main steps. First, quality function deployment (QFD) and the best and worst method (BWM) are used to evaluate the four dimensions of the BTAP and specific evaluation criteria from the perspective of customers to obtain the criteria weight. Then, this method uses the extended Vlse Kriterjumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) approach to sort the alternatives. Finally, the improved decision making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method is used to analyse the relationships between the 20 criteria in the four dimensions. The feasibility and effectiveness of this method are verified by an example. According to the sensitivity analysis and comparative analysis, the results show that this method can evaluate blockchain anti-counterfeiting enterprises. The main conclusions are as follows: the core technology is the most important factor influencing the choice of a BTAP project, and the role of application support in evaluation cannot be ignored.
Manufacturing and supply chain operations are on the cusp of an era with the emergence of groundbreaking technologies. Among these, the digital twin technology is characterized as a paradigm shift in managing production and supply networks since it facilitates a high degree of surveillance and a communication platform between humans, machines, and parts. Digital twins can play a critical role in facilitating faster decision making in product trade-ins by nearly eliminating the uncertainty in the conditions of returned end-of-life products. This paper demonstrates the potential effects of digital twins in trade-in policymaking through a simulated product-recovery system through blockchain technology. A discrete event simulation model is developed from the manufacturerâs viewpoint to obtain a data-driven trade-in pricing policy in a fully transparent platform. The model maps and mimics the behavior of the product-recovery activities based on predictive indicators. Following this, Taguchiâs Orthogonal Array design is implemented as a design-of-experiment study to test the systemâs behavior under varying experimental conditions. A logistics regression model is applied to the simulated data to acquire optimal trade-in acquisition prices for returned end-of-life products based on the insights gained from the system.
Abstract Although there are several special features in block-chain technology such as machine trust, traceability, and security, high energy consumption remains an issue in broadening the applications of block-chain technology. Some researchers proposed the use of proof of stake (PoS) mechanism rather than proof of work (PoW) mechanism to reduce energy consumption of block-chain. However, because PoS cannot guarantee fairness, mixed consensus mechanisms could be a solution and has been adopted in many studies. This paper aims to evaluate the performances of PoW, PoS and mixed consensus mechanisms from three aspects: energy consumption, fairness, and reliability. An agent-based model of a typical block-chain system equipped with different consensus mechanisms is created in NetLogo. This model simulates and evaluates the performances of different consensus mechanisms in the block-chain system.
Bing Qing Tan, Fangfang Wang, Jia Liu, Kai Kang · 5 authors
The logistics industry around the world has proliferated over recent years as a large number of business organizations have come to recognize the importance of logistics. Cost control used to be emphasized to remain competitive, but recently green logistics has gained attention with the awareness of the integration of economy and society as a whole. Nowadays, green logistics is a useful concept to improve the sustainability of logistics operations, and its related policies and theoretical research have been investigated and explored. However, the practical applications of green logistics are impeded by real-time data sharing, which is common in the logistics industry. Blockchain technology is adopted to address this challenge and enable data sharing among related stakeholders. This paper presents a reference framework for green logistics based on blockchain to reach the sustainable operations of logistics, with the integration of the Internet of Things and big data. Finally, potential benefits and limitations are analyzed when implementing this framework.