Purpose Technology is the lifeline for the logistics industry, and it has been immensely disrupted by the emerging blockchain technology. This paper has two main objectives. The first is to explore how the current blockchain technology can be implemented in the logistics industry with the aim of improving logistic services amongst the network of logistics service providers (LSPs). The second is to propose the development of a blockchain model for the small and medium logistics service supply chain. Design/methodology/approach A prototype blockchain-based logistics system has been created and tested in a case study with a real logistics company. The primary technologies for developing a blockchain model on the Hyperledger platform as well as how the system is designed based on the logistics service flow are explained. Findings The study has resulted in the successful implementation of the proposed prototype blockchain-based logistics system. In particular, the case company has managed to fully utilise the developed tracking and tracing system. Whilst utilising the prototype, the participants have been able to fulfil their responsibilities in an effective manner. The performance of LSPs has improved following the World Bank Logistics Performance Index (LPI) criteria. Originality/value This paper contributes to current research in the application of blockchain technologies in the domain of logistics and the supply chain to progress LSPs towards Logistics 4.0. The current frameworks for Logistics 4.0 and how blockchain as a disruptive technology revolutionises logistic services are reviewed. In addition, this paper highlights the benefits of blockchain technology that LSPs can leverage to further improve their performance based on the LPI criteria.
It is observed that there are several artists who are developing marvelous products but their product needs international exposure. These artists have limited market if they are going to promote and sell product. Moreover the there is lack of premium customer in rural areas. Thus artist who lives in rural area does not get proper incentive and significance. NFT is the only way to provide such artist global market where such artists may promote their art work. With the advent of blockchain technology NFT creation and marketing has been increased. Thus there are several international; market place such as Opensea and Young parrot that allows creation of NFT over Matic, Satoshi core, Ethereum and BNB smart chain. 9NFTMANIA proposed a lifestyle that is named as NFT culture. In these culture greetings, invitations, certificates, membership card would be made in form of NFT. In this way secure transfer of digital asset could be made and this NFT would have particular value. Even if a person wants to thank someone or want to say good morning then he should transfer NFT to other person's wallet. Moreover the supply of such greeting NFT would be limited thus there remains expectation of raise in price. On other hand holder of NFT would be able to access premium web services when web 3.0 mechanisms are applied to verify NFT holder in Metaverse.
Abstract The emergence and subsequent popularization of lean manufacturing have become one of the most significant for improving the efficiency and productivity of operations. The use of lean manufacturing tools and methods leads to the elimination of waste in the organization. Traditional information systems that allow organizations to share information about resources while managing process performance and traceability have a number of disadvantages such as security, interoperability, and transparency. Currently, distributed ledger technology (block-chain) is widely used for this purpose. This article presents a study of decentralized management of the implementation of a distributed ledger infrastructure, which is selected based on the characteristics of the production system. This study proposes a framework that analyzes lean production methods using simulation and data envelopment analysis (DEA) to accommodate the underlying multi-objective decision-making problem. The current study examines the impact of the simultaneous application of RCA technology, lean manufacturing methods, and distributed ledger technology on the total time, costs, and time of production processes.
A digital twin is a digital or virtual copy of physical assets or products. It has the virtual and real world by collecting real-time data from the sensors which are installed in the devices. The collected data is either locally decentralized or centrally stored in cloud. Then the data is evaluated and simulated in virtual copy of the assets. After revising the information from stimulation the parameters are applied to real assets and we can predict current and future conditions in both design and operational environment. Also these are the next big thing in fourth industrial revolution for the development of new products and process. Because of vast amount of data used and the risk this poses to sensitive system data. To overcome these. The key enabling technology for digital twins data analytics and IoT must follow the updated security policies, and data sharing based on Distributed Ledger Technology can help to overcome the challenges in sharing data.
The proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices that operate unattended providing a multitude of important and often sensitive services highlights the need for seamless interoperability and increased security. We argue that digital twins of IoT devices, with the right design, can enhance the security, reliability, auditability, and interoperability of IoT systems. The salient features of digital twins have made them key elements for the IoT and Industry 4.0. In this paper, we leverage advances in W3C's Web of Things (WoT) standards and Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLTs) to present a novel design of smart contract-based digital twins with enhanced security, transparency, interoperabilty, and reliability. We provide two different variations of that general design using two different blockchains (one public and one private, permissioned blockchain), and we present design trade-offs. Furthermore, we introduce an architecture for accessing and controlling IoT devices securely, reliably, providing full auditability, while at the same time using the proposed digital twins as an indirection mechanism (proxy). The proposed architecture leverages the blockchain to offer notable properties, namely, decentralization, immutability, auditability, non-repudiation, availability, and reliability. Moreover, it introduces mass actuation, easier management of IoT devices, enhanced security to the IoT gateways, it enables new business models, and it makes consumer devices (vendor-)agnostic.
Smart grids play an important role for energy management by directly supporting the socio-ecological transition of neighbourhoods. This research provides the design of a coordination model to enable the management and exchange of electrical energy between producers and consumers at a micro-grid level. This model, which derives from the SAPERE coordination model, allows the intelligent digital twins to interact and generate services on the fly to meet different needs in real time. We have designed producer and consumer digital twins, which autonomously generate supply contracts in the form of a transaction, and supervisor digital twins, which regulate energy at the node level, managing threshold violations and proactively avoiding future threshold violations by using predictions. This coordination model allows energy exchanges in a single node and in a micro-grid structure that contains several neighbouring nodes. We have implemented and tested the platform with realistic data, based on the consumption statistics of a real household, and with real data, collected in the living-lab of “Les Vergers” located near Geneva. The results show that the combination of a coordination model and intelligent digital twins actually supports self-adaptive energy management in a smart grid. Such approaches are fundamental to develop efficient and reliable smart grids.
Peiman Tavakoli, İbrahim Yitmen, Habib Sadri, Afshin Taheri
Purpose The purpose of this study is to focus on structured data provision and asset information model maintenance and develop a data provenance model on a blockchain-based digital twin smart and sustainable built environment (DT) for predictive asset management (PAM) in building facilities. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative research data were collected through a comprehensive scoping review of secondary sources. Additionally, primary data were gathered through interviews with industry specialists. The analysis of the data served as the basis for developing blockchain-based DT data provenance models and scenarios. A case study involving a conference room in an office building in Stockholm was conducted to assess the proposed data provenance model. The implementation utilized the Remix Ethereum platform and Sepolia testnet. Findings Based on the analysis of results, a data provenance model on blockchain-based DT which ensures the reliability and trustworthiness of data used in PAM processes was developed. This was achieved by providing a transparent and immutable record of data origin, ownership and lineage. Practical implications The proposed model enables decentralized applications (DApps) to publish real-time data obtained from dynamic operations and maintenance processes, enhancing the reliability and effectiveness of data for PAM. Originality/value The research presents a data provenance model on a blockchain-based DT, specifically tailored to PAM in building facilities. The proposed model enhances decision-making processes related to PAM by ensuring data reliability and trustworthiness and providing valuable insights for specialists and stakeholders interested in the application of blockchain technology in asset management and data provenance.
This paper explores the issues of building digital twins for smart cities, which can be controlled manually or with the assistance of intelligent systems. For these purposes, a specialized logic platform, Delta, is being built, which has such properties as transparency, reliability, and predictability. The Delta platform allows us to represent the digital twins of cities as a network of smart contracts that interact with each other within a unified multi-blockchain system. The inclusion of Delta-learning and Delta-connection modules facilitates knowledge acquisition and utilization for AI-driven process management and sensor integration within smart cities.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms can be employed to enhance the security of the blockchain networks in the era of industry 4.0. Smart contracts, powered by blockchain, can be developed by using the AI capabilities. These contracts can execute themselves based on predefined conditions, automating various processes and reducing the need for intermediaries. Blockchain provides a transparent and immutable ledger for supply chain transactions. AI can be integrated to analyze this data, providing insights into the entire supply chain. This helps in tracking and tracing products, ensuring authenticity, and optimizing the supply chain based on data-driven decisions. AI algorithms can be employed to analyze data from the manufacturing process recorded on the blockchain. This allows for predictive maintenance and quality control, helping to identify and address issues before they result in defects or downtime. AI and blockchain can work together to secure the massive amount of data generated by IoT devices in an Industry 4.0 setting. Blockchain ensures the integrity and immutability of IoT data, while AI can analyze this data for insights and optimization. AI and blockchain can facilitate the creation of decentralized energy grids where AI algorithms optimize energy distribution and blockchain ensures transparent and secure energy trading through smart contracts. AI and blockchain can support decentralized and collaborative manufacturing networks where different entities can securely and efficiently collaborate on production processes. Blockchain enables individuals or organizations to securely monetize their data. AI can help analyze and determine the value of data, ensuring fair compensation in tokenized ecosystems. In this paper, applications of AI-Powered Blockchain Technology in Industry 4.0 is reviewed and discussed and future research works are also suggested. As a result, efficiency, transparency, and security across various industrial processes can be enhanced by analyzing the recent achievements in AI-Powered Blockchain Technology in Industry 4.0.
A “killer app” denotes any computer programme or software that is so essential or desirable that it demonstrates the fundamental worth of a larger technology. It is portrayed as virtually indispensable or vastly superior to competing products. Supply chain transparency (SCT) has long been ripe for disruption and in need of such a technological solution. Several applications have appeared on the market - but few have coalesced the complex tasks required for full transparency. To date, there is no “killer app” for fashion supply chain transparency. Applications that facilitate SCT including tracking and tracing mechanisms as well as data repository and distributed ledger systems like blockchain are complex and daunting for most fashion businesses. Industry powerplays and lack of trust are blocking the universal adoption of current solutions. This chapter aims to explore how SCT can be adopted by firms and facilitated at scale. We advance current knowledge of digital technology applications for SCT through the theoretical lens of organisational culture to decipher how start-ups are developing technology for adoption by fashion firms. Using a single case study methodology, we analysed one hybrid start-up (fashion and technology firm) that has developed and implemented advanced digital technology initiatives at scale. From our case analysis, we provide insights into the requirements to build a digital ecosystem - one with which most firms are not yet familiar. We discuss key implications for theory and practise, based on our findings.
Nikolai Kazantsev, Oleksii Petrovskyi, Julian M. Müller
Rapid market changes call for demand-driven collaborations in manufacturing, which trigger supply chain evolution to more distributed supply structures. This paper explores the system dynamics of the largest European aerospace manufacturer's supply chain. We conceptualise a manufacturing ecosystem by observing the impacts of supplier development, digital platforms, smart contracting, and Industry 4.0 on demand-driven collaborations in time. We contribute to the literature on ecosystem strategy, particularly for regulated industries, by disclosing the role of demand-driven collaborations in supporting the ecosystems' growth. We provide manufacturing firms with an open-access tool to exemplify their ecosystem development and produce initial training datasets for AI/ML algorithms, supporting further analytics.
Implementing digital transformation in higher education is now required for effective adaptation to rapid technological advances. Utilizing Enterprise Architecture (EA) with blockchain technology is a recommended strategic approach for implementing digital transformation. The college first ascertains the University's digital transformation requirements and goals, which include data management, security, operational efficiency, and transparency. In addition, formulating a strategic plan to determine the optimal integration of blockchain technology within the college's architectural framework, including the judicious selection of the most suitable blockchain platform, is essential. In addition, developing a company's architecture must prioritize seamless integration with existing systems while upholding data security and consistency principles. Consideration should be given to the significance of training and awareness building among faculty and students. In addition, the implementation process must be conducted in phases with consistent monitoring and evaluation. The success of this project is contingent upon the formation of partnerships and collaborations with blockchain technology companies, as well as a thorough understanding of the applicable regulatory framework. By adopting this methodology, the University can increase operational efficiency, bolster data security measures, and improve the educational experience. This research aims to increase efficiency, data security, transparency, and educational innovation in universities using Blockchain Technology and University Enterprise Architecture.
Blockchain is a form of digital distributed ledger, referring to databases decentralized across numerous users, facilitating peer-to-peer transactions by eliminating or reducing the need for intermediaries to conduct, validate, or authenticate them.It is characterized by transparency, data immutability and traceability, and consensus processes validating cryptographic signatures.The architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AECO) industry is increasingly interested in blockchain.Lean construction (LC), a value-focused production management concept, has long been challenging conventional project management practices in AECO.Lack of conversation, however, surrounds whether and how blockchain can (or should) impact LC developments -and vice versa.And if that impact exists -is it significant enough to create value for the related stakeholders?This article offers a conceptual synergistic framework of interactions between blockchain and LC, which can facilitate an understanding on whether there is value in their combined use.A systematic literature review and analysis serve as the foundation of this research.The findings show that LC can be facilitated by blockchain through trust building for relational procurement, data recording for some key activities (e.g.offsite construction, Last Planner System), and streamlining some non-value activities (e.g.payments).In return, blockchain can gain relevance for project management practices when it is defined and implemented in a LC framework.Also, LC can help improve blockchain-related workflows and decision making.
Giampaolo Bovenzi, Giuseppe Aceto, Valerio Persico, Antonio Pescapè
Solutions based on Blockchain (BC) technologies are gaining more and more attention in the context of Industry 4.0 (I4.0). While the research community has provided significant effort in either BC or I4.0 research domains, the complex implications of the adoption of BC technologies in this specific context are not analyzed in depth. This is a serious drawback because of the multiple and heterogeneous interactions between participants in the production network. In fact, researchers and practitioners involved in planning and deployment of I4.0 solutions may still face questions related to the needs solved by BC, the I4.0-related adoption scenarios explored, and the Key Performance Indicators to assess the effectiveness of these technologies. In this paper, we survey the existing literature to identify shared definitions and drivers that lead to the adoption of BC technologies in I4.0. Then, we analyze several practical use cases—under the umbrella (smart) contexts of Factory, Healthcare, and Energy—highlighting the need for comprehensive analysis including not only functional and architectural characteristics but also performance. We collect a number of Key Performance Indicators and organize the dozen aliases and variants, explaining their relationships and pointing at the relevant studies. Finally, we discuss limitations, challenges and future directions related to BC application to I4.0, and the role of performance analysis in this research.
Quality management (QM) of additive manufacturing (AM) processes is currently immature in terms of transparency, traceability and security. In particular, quality-relevant documents are not documented and communicated in a traceable and transparent manner, which often leads to quality deficiencies. However, combining AM with blockchain technology can enable a solution that maps the AM value chain digitally, transparently, traceably and securely in a part record. In this work, a quality assurance (QA) concept for the metal-based material extrusion (MEX) process is developed that enables a digital representation of the value chain in the form of an AM part record. The decentralized solution presented in this work uses an architecture consisting of a web application for data acquisition, a decentralized storage solution for storing larger amounts of data, a smart contract for capturing manufacturing events and the Ethereum blockchain for transparent, secure and traceable storage of blockchain data. The AM part record enables traceable and constantly available digital documentation of quality information. The cost-effectiveness of the solution is also shown in a demonstration study. The research results highlight the benefits of a blockchain-based AM part record for digital manufacturing documentation and represent an efficient alternative or extension to existing QM and QA solutions in AM.
Open access
Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies
Nana Akua Adu-Amankwa, Farzad Pour Rahimian, Nashwan Dawood, Chansik Park
This paper reviews the potential applications of Digital Twins (DT) and Blockchain (BC) technologies throughout the building lifecycle phases by conducting a double-stranded systematic review of papers on the possible use of DT and BC. The results revealed the increasing interest in DT and BC and their potential use in all building lifecycle phases; however, studies focused mainly on the construction phase. The findings also revealed unique features of DT and BC, potentially supporting the proposal for their collaborative implementation to enhance building lifecycle management. This review's findings positioned the argument for more research on integrating DT and BC to augment building lifecycle management and the need to explore their relevance or role when transitioning from construction to post-construction. This paper elucidates readers on the potential role of DT and BC while developing a built asset and suggests directions for future research.
Francesco Lupi, Mario G. C. A. Cimino, Tomaž Berlec, Federico A. Galatolo · 8 authors
Today, globalized markets require more resilient and agile manufacturing systems, as well as customized and virtualized features. Classical self-standing manufacturing systems are evolving into collaborative networks such as Cloud Manufacturing (based on centralized knowledge and distributed resources) or Shared Manufacturing (based on fully decentralized knowledge and distributed resources) as a solution to ensure business continuity under normal as well as special circumstances. Additive Manufacturing (AM), one of the enablers of Industry 4.0 (I4.0), is a promising technology for innovative production models due to its inherent distributed capabilities, digital nature, and product customization ability. To increase the adaptivity of distributed resources using AM technology, this paper proposes a mechanism for sharing workload and resources under unexpected behaviours in the supply chain. Smart contracts and blockchain technology in this concept are used to provide decentralized, transparent, and trusted operation of such systems, which provide more resilience to disruptive factors. In this paper, the proposed Blockchain-based Shared Additive Manufacturing (BBSAM) protocol, ontology, and workflow for AM capacity pooling are discussed and analysed under special conditions such as anomalous demand. Discrete-time Python simulation on a real Italian AM market dataset, also provided, is available on GitHub.
Open access
Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies
The recent revolution in Industry 4.0 (IR 4.0) has characterized the integration of advance technologies to bring the fourth industrial revolution to scale the manufacturing landscape. There are different key drivers for this revolution, in this research we have explored the following among them such as, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Deep Learning, Blockchain and Augmented Reality. The emerging concept from blockchain namely “Non-Fungible Token” (NFT) relating to the uniqueness of digital assets has vast potential to be considered for physical assets identification and authentication in the IR 4.0 scenario. Similarly, the data acquired through the deployment of IIoT devices and sensors into smart industry spectrum can be transformed to generated robust analytics for different industry use-cases. The predictive maintenance is a major scenario in which early equipment failure detection using deep learning model on acquired data from IIoT devices has major potential for it. Similarly, the augmented reality can be able to provide real-time visualization within the factory environment to gather real-time insight and analytics from the physical equipment for different purposes. This research initially conducted a survey to analyse the existing developments in these domains of technologies to further widen its horizon for this research. This research developed and deployed a smart contract into an ethereum blockchain environment to simulate the use-case for NFT for physical assets and processes synchronization. The next phase was deploying deep learning algorithms on a dataset having data generated from IIoT devices and sensors. The Feedforward and Convolutional Neural Network were used to classify the target variables in relation with predictive maintenance failure analysis. Lastly, the research also proposed an AR based framework for the visualization ecosystem within the industry environment to effectively visualize and monitory IIoT based equipment’s for different industrial use-cases i.e., monitoring, inspection, quality assurance.
Blockchain 3.0, an advanced iteration of blockchain technology, has emerged with diverse applications encompassing various sectors such as identity authentication, logistics, medical care, and Industry 4.0/5.0. Notably, the integration of blockchain with industrial automation and control systems (IACS) holds immense potential in this evolving landscape. As industrial automation and control systems gain popularity alongside the widespread adoption of 5G networks, Internet of Things (IoT) devices are transforming into integral nodes within the blockchain network. This facilitates decentralized communication and verification, paving the way for a fully decentralized network. This paper focuses on showcasing the implementation and execution results of data preservation from industrial automation and control systems to IOTA, a prominent distributed ledger technology. The findings demonstrate the practical application of IOTA in securely preserving data within the context of industrial automation and control systems. The presented numerical results validate the effectiveness and feasibility of leveraging IOTA for seamless data preservation, ensuring data integrity, confidentiality, and transparency. By adopting IOTA’s innovative approach based on Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG), the paper contributes to the advancement of blockchain technology in the domain of Industry 4.0/5.0.
The emergence of Industry 5.0 has highlighted the significance of information usage, processing, and data analysis when maintaining physical assets. This has enabled the creation of the Digital Twin (DT). Information about an asset is generated and consumed during its entire life cycle. The main goal of DT is to connect and represent physical assets as close to reality as possible virtually. Unfortunately, the lack of security and trust among DT participants remains a problem as a result of data sharing. This issue cannot be resolved with a central authority when dealing with large organisations. Blockchain technology has been proposed as a solution for DT information sharing and security challenges. This paper proposes a Blockchain-based solution for digital twin using Ethereum blockchain with performance and cost analysis. This solution employs a smart contract for information management and access control for stakeholders of the digital twin, which is secure and tamper-proof. This implementation is based on Ethereum and IPFS. We use IPFS storage servers to store stakeholders' details and manage information. A real-world use-case of a production line of a smartphone, where a conveyor belt is used to carry different parts, is presented to demonstrate the proposed system. The performance evaluation of our proposed system shows that it is secure and achieves performance improvement when compared with other methods. The comparison of results with state-of-the-art methods showed that the proposed system consumed fewer resources in a transaction cost, with an 8% decrease. The execution cost increased by 10%, but the cost of ether was 93% less than the existing methods.
Kwaku Adu-Amankwa is a PhD candidate at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom, based within the department of Design, Manufacturing and Engineering Management, and affiliated with the Centre for Internet Law & Policy. He researches complex security relationships associated with IP of additive manufacturing (3D printing) applications within digitally enabled/transformed supply chains. Angela Daly is a Professor of Law at the University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom, jointly appointed by the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science and Dundee Law School. She conducts research across IP, data protection, competition and sector-specific regulation and human rights law. Digital supply chains (DSCs) provide several advantages over traditional physical supply chains, yet they also pose new risks, including for IP, especially when associated with three-dimensional ‘3D’ printing (3DP), also known as additive manufacturing (AM). Technological protection measure (TPM) usage in DSCs may help address the IP security issues of 3DP or AM but may result in overprotection and disregard for IP exceptions, which may also have a negative impact on innovation and other goals such as sustainability. This article considers how the IP security of 3DP/AM is addressed in DSCs, including by applying TPMs. We discuss whether the current approaches strike the right balance between the competing interests of different DSC actors. We also present some novel findings from a survey conducted with expert stakeholders to better understand IP security issues in practice. Our findings show that most respondents see IP and IP security efforts as both barriers and enablers to using 3DP/AM within DSCs. Also, the strategy chosen by most respondents for securing IP focuses on a technical approach, using inter alia TPMs. We infer that this dual perspective on IP and IP security may reflect the respondents’ differing relationship with IP in DSCs, where one may wish to create, use and secure their own IP but also encounter barriers through the inaccessibility of the IP of third parties. In the Internet age, the relationship between IP and digital technologies has become the subject of intense debate, giving rise to legislative reforms, a vast body of case law and commercial and technical adaptations extensively documented in academic literature.1 While most of the attention has focused on copyright, the interaction of digital technologies with other IP rights, such as trade marks and patents (eg for keyword advertising and software and hardware patents), has also attracted scrutiny.2 Furthermore, questions over the ownership of data and trade secrets, data and algorithms also have IP-relevant aspects.3 As digital technologies, usually Internet enabled, have evolved, the debate has moved to new areas, including Internet-of-Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and smart manufacturing, especially three-dimensional ‘3D’ printing (3DP) or additive manufacturing (AM). In many cases, these technologies give rise to interconnected issues, as they are deployed simultaneously, so that, eg a 3DP machine is part of the IoT.4 These new technologies are also vehicles for IP creation and dissemination and, in some cases, IP overreach and present issues for securing and utilizing IP, increasing the complexity of the debate. Digitalization facilitates decentralized manufacturing through a variety of technologies including 3DP, which relies on digital design files provided through digital communications means, such as the public Internet (especially for hobbyists using sites such as Thingiverse).5 Larger industrial production using digital manufacturing may mobilize securer, private networks to send and receive files and other necessary information or data to produce objects.6 In these ways, traditional supply chains, which previously typically involved centralized production in a large factory (often in China) and the distribution of products by sea, air and train, are transitioning to a different model, involving more decentralized and diffuse production, geographically closer to the end user.7 The more traditional supply chain model experienced various IP security issues, such as copycat production, including in factories that may have produced legitimate versions of products by day and counterfeit versions by night.8 However, digital supply chains (DSCs) may present more opportunities for IP infringement and, thus, reduce security for IP owners. DSCs integrating 3DP offer advantages over conventional supply chains and centralized manufacturing in terms of increased sustainability, convenience and less wastage.9 We have seen the tangible value of decentralized smart production and DSCs during the early part of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which significantly disrupted traditional supply chains, especially for high-demand medical and health products, including personal protective equipment such as facemasks and testing kits.10 However, DSCs and smart manufacturing raise new concerns about IP security, as IP travelling along DSCs may be vulnerable to being hacked or misappropriated through the supply chain.11 Also, digital files in the supply chain may also contain material that would infringe the IP of others. Commentators have been raising concerns about IP security in digital manufacturing, especially 3DP, as part of broader concerns about new manufacturing technologies, such as 3DP’s disruptive effect on the theoretical underpinnings and effective enforcement of IP.12 Again, the issue of IP security and countervailing interests, including access to knowledge and medical treatment, emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, where a particularly prominent case involved two engineers in Italy making replacement parts for a patented ventilator machine used to treat COVID patients threatened with litigation for allegedly infringing the patent.13 While in the end the case never reached a court, and the engineers may have been able to avail themselves of an exception to infringement, such threats may have a chilling effect on the use of distributed smart manufacturing.14 In this article, we focus on the issue of IP security in DSCs for smart manufacturing using 3DP or AM to consider (i) the extent to which IP is disrupted or weakened in DSCs and (ii) how IP is secured in these chains to mitigate such concerns. We summarize the relationship between 3DP and the law, focusing on IP, before considering how technical IP security measures have been mobilized in predecessor digital technologies. Here, we will focus on the debate around technological protection measures (TPMs) and digital rights management (DRM) as technical means of enforcing IP security. We consider how TPMs have been deployed in Internet-enabled content supply chains during the 1990s and 2000s, as well as the controversial legislative updates that accommodated DRM in that era, including the extent to which the right balance was struck between competing rights and We more in IP security in DSCs before research on this we offer AM as The of to parts from three-dimensional model usually as to manufacturing and manufacturing As by 3DP or AM physical and digital or products used to produce a from a digital model the industrial in the manufacturing has the manufacturing approaches distributed or different supply chain are involved in making a In digital manufacturing, supply chain are to and digital data may contain or as well as physical both These from more traditional manufacturing the industrial as the 3DP a three-dimensional from a digital design and which are in a to the using a large of material from which the is AM various advantages over traditional including and the to produce or that would be to traditional AM is known as 3DP as including in the body of on the so we this to the and manufacturing 3DP in various and at different with the printing in for that other such as and or of However, hardware and design such as along with 3DP the of 3DP to manufacturing In with a access to and an to produce that previously be on a usually This a of and However, as may be by the of 3DP has been as as may be other barriers to including the that some technical knowledge would the or of and for the and the of 3DP to and in many of law with 3DP and or and IP are these of law. The has been the to the creation of using 3DP with the a prominent and controversial involving the distribution of design files that be used with a 3DP machine to a right to these files in the of the right to and the right to has been the subject of debate and litigation in the and some in for most other in the which have more the IP has also in over 3DP, to has been litigation in this However, various have involving design files on such as and the of and to this content for IP of this is the of litigation the 3DP replacement parts during the COVID-19 pandemic, as IP issues in 3DP concerns with the of the the of files IP (especially the use of sites and the of new such as the Digital in the and the with their and and or However, 3DP from the digital content and Internet 3DP a more physical and This concerns about and 3DP, such as or products, and in and protection an IP this means that is the focus of IP law by digital concerns are by issues involving trade marks and other IP rights, a the (eg is to the Digital in the for have been on how 3DP and DSCs pose to IP and how to address these from the that IP rights are to a extent at the through the and the on of thus, is a in how IP law in different and how IP rights to manufacturing digital manufacturing This for supply chains, whether digital or they are or and Furthermore, IP rights are in third use IP the rights or These exceptions, which for IP right and between to that the right balance is struck between different (especially IP and at and that is access to for The balance to be struck between IP rights and is subject to debate, as access to such as human or and, more access to COVID-19 and these of in digital that more approaches this design be or is a for IP law and and one that may from the of TPMs. The of IP infringement is a prominent security within DSCs. have that integrating technologies of the industrial including DSCs and 3DP, for manufacturing and pose various to security securing IP and data in DSCs a and IP security is an in law and for supply chains, their but DSCs have new security issues increased and impact from data and DSCs, the of on information has become to attention to the value in the information of which may IP and for making or is DSCs, through decentralized digital and physical for the or manufacturing information to the end This be with a traditional supply where information is usually as through centralized or a the and the information such that the end the in is to as as traditional supply chains encounter IP risks, these may be increased in DSCs, making the IP security issue the more and on the secured the within is and research IP in DSCs, including research on the increased of IP infringement to traditional supply chains. As well as more theoretical on IP and 3DP including that 3DP use within DSCs would result in over to IP at a by on of the issues of IP to be over has for being to measure or to the of IP within the digital and the issue of IP infringement more at this that has to has been for the extent and of IP infringement in 3DP more The that the theoretical 3DP to conventional IP and the infringement is so in and have been to secure IP in DSCs, including the use of TPMs within the communications and TPMs as technological to the use of digital by access to such or various of such including and TPMs used for 3DP applications within supply chains using distributed (eg and DRM or to production and distributed or However, using technical to IP in DSCs may of such IP with to and have that such overreach by TPMs in digital technologies, especially the is a of this overreach and of material is to the using technical means, eg an This is usually the of the IP or the that the However, of a also the material to be used for that would infringe the TPMs is a which be used for legitimate and The of TPMs was and in the and the and contain a and that to protection and effective the of effective technological used by and in to the the IP this is to that these and addressed TPMs and copyright, 3DP also other IP The in the and have to a in many have and the overprotection of by legitimate of by an exception or to The have been in many such as through and of the in of the and and of the Digital to the eg for the to to eg of the and However, the for using these are and (eg the for a to to the of to a of a The which the in the of to in a for the public in the interests of the issue of securing IP in DSCs a have been about how TPMs may the of products, as is as a exception in many and have IP law other to products with and and the to parts are which DSCs to these may innovation and this is subject to In to the of or end in the DSC infringing IP, the IP within the DSC result in the digital of the manufacturing the physical or for As well as IP infringement, such may be and subject to law and DSC on the and have to with such as the for and in the the and personal data protection such as the for the being in the This of issues and concerns about and the use of data in manufacturing As 3DP is on digital or technologies, about whether technological of IP within DSCs of IP protection are also is a of on and in these areas, which more complexity to securing DSCs, especially manufacturing within such supply chains, from a Technological in IP management may have the effective use of TPMs conventional IP TPMs may be as early as the IP and may to the IP in we in as a for the increasing to secure IP with TPMs. management and technological protection measure is also that the also security issues and concerns across the including IP, which are this is the of research and, thus, an for In securing IP in supply chains used to manufacturing various issues in IP security, from in in different some of to the for overreach in applying to the use of for for other of IP design rights and trade The research on 3DP and IP to has involved information about how IP security is for using 3DP and DSCs about they to secure IP We to in and present from research to address this is or of a DSC in the and is a We a DSC as on the various by and technological that is based on the of data and and for digital and networks to and interaction between by making more and with and effective The focus of is based on the or supply chain model, which is by by the digital and in the physical as by We understand that both the and involved in the supply chain the digital to and that are associated with of that in the physical and be or from the digital or physical The supply chain we focus on is we to as a a used in and that digital is about making or in the digital concerns the and novel digital technologies to the of and within the supply This to printing as a within the smart manufacturing for a of and across the of supply chains are an The COVID-19 has this some within DSCs have provided of the between DSCs and traditional supply where these DSCs also or some of the of both traditional supply chains and DSCs are a that and so one consider to their or of with digital and associated digital technologies. of the supply chain are (i) over manufacturing data previously and (ii) to digital being on These may by IP rights and (eg trade also in of the increased of in the manufacturing and have for DSC to secure the supply chain and the of However, has been research on how these are addressed in in 3DP DSCs, especially from the perspective of IP security. understand this issue we present some from research that we have conducted on and We an using the which was distributed to with IP security issues in 3DP/AM DSCs, to their about securing the IP of AM applications within supply chains from to was chosen is to access to the data and result or to other in a to the This was for the and relationships between the of subject We used the in the survey as is more used in expert The survey a of questions to measure and their and with IP issues when AM is used as the manufacturing within a The two questions as securing and IP when using AM in the supply with IP for using AM within the supply We also which provide some on the and the of consider IP an or a to using AM within supply consider securing the IP of AM a or an to using AM within supply the about the they would to secure their IP within a DSC when using of for securing and IP for when using AM in a supply The with the of to the and of respondents at the and This to on the of about IP and for IP security the findings with on IP, AM and TPMs to this research are across including law and chosen to address the We with in some of 3DP, DSCs and IP to in the This involved a of to some about we as to in the We from using the on and networks (eg and and to be in the of of was a in (eg or information in may have in or to whether knowledge and Furthermore, conducted using are usually as a yet they have a and the for of the survey was to be a to the we have with a that to and they to to to their to from and to from various which we have the and As in most of respondents’ in or by a in academic the in of eg engineers and or This a distribution of across the of IP, supply security and management from technical and The about their of in securing IP and IP security for AM applications within supply chains in two that the securing IP and an IP security strategy for AM use within the supply some that they or may have such when using AM within supply chains. We use the Manufacturing as an in and to to supply chains that use AM as their of or with on additive manufacturing supply chains. was that, and to whether they with securing IP, the with more and to whether they in an IP strategy for AM use within supply chains. In two about their of the effect of IP and security on using AM within supply chains. whether IP was a or an to using AM within supply chains, and whether securing IP was a or an to using AM within supply chains. that of the that IP, as well as securing IP, is both a and an to using AM within the supply of on additive manufacturing supply chains. is that for both questions on IP and securing IP, the significantly about whether was a of or an of when the of or are they for about a third of this is closer to the of see the effect as both a and an and about a of that these are a an and We about their IP security and management for AM use in the supply the for this that using technical approaches (eg to and secure IP when using AM in a supply This was by approaches with approaches (eg protection in IP law such as a of that an access was and the was IP security security strategy was at by different the various they more one different The technical was in of by the and the in of the for of the disregard emerged in two of as the IP The most IP strategy and technical by of This was by (i) technical and by of (ii) technical and as well as by of respondents technical and by of and and technical by of respondents the IP by of we a of and as well as and a of technical and as well as and a of and the as the means to address IP security was conducted on the to relationships within the This to that the of IP on AM use within supply chains to the of IP security that are the and security strategy and on additive manufacturing supply chains. We that the IP security and management approaches for questions about the effect of IP on using AM within the supply in which that they as both a and an As the a technical a a an and a disregard in that their for securing effect on using AM within the supply chain in of a technical a a an and a disregard in that they consider effect on using AM within the supply chains as a an also a technical a a and an in as for securing that they consider securing effect on using AM within the supply chains as a an technical and approaches over a and an when that effect on using AM within the supply chains was a the strategy that was associated with that was a by and technical approaches and, an when securing effect on using AM within the supply chains was as a the strategy that emerged was in of a by for a by and technical approaches when effect on using AM within the supply chains was as an their for a technical over a by a an as for securing IP on using AM within the supply chains in However, when securing effect on using AM within the supply chains was as an a for a technical a a and an in The that TPMs their are the strategy to secure and in the of AM applications within supply chains. is strategy especially when securing IP a to using AM within the supply chains. was conducted on to relationships within the This to that the IP when using AM within supply chains to the of IP security that the and security strategy and with many that they have in securing IP or IP security their that they strategy to secure their IP when using AM within supply chains. these respondents that their in of a technical and a over a an and a disregard when with the of securing IP when using AM within supply chains. the that these respondents their for a technical by a a an and a disregard when with the of IP security when using AM within supply chains. to being to IP the technical and over the disregard and approaches to being with IP security when using AM within supply chains, the IP security technical approaches and to being with securing IP when using AM within supply chains a for a technical and a over a to being with IP security when using AM within supply chains their in of a technical and a before considering a over a disregard be that the IP security in with IP when using AM within supply the technical was the most by the approach, over the Our show the of IP and IP security for digital manufacturing in DSCs, 3DP or AM applications within such chains. We that most IP to a dual both a and an to using 3DP/AM in most that securing IP was both a and an to using 3DP/AM in DSCs. These may of the with and using their own IP for 3DP/AM applications within DSCs and, on the other their to use IP However, the that this was the perspective that of IP being to within DSCs, or 3DP/AM traditional IP, are prominent in this complexity in the of IP and IP security is a for more research with expert the several to secure IP in DSCs including (eg or design rights that emerged as the third most technical approaches to IP, using are the most strategy for 3DP/AM use within DSCs, most would use these in with other including commercial and protection of from the and based on and that be associated with their of to IP issues within DSCs that use security strategy and with IP was that with securing IP or with IP security or a technical was the most by both and but academic a and approaches when with securing IP, yet a an IP security This a for TPMs across most is that more one strategy we infer from the that they a of and they to strike some balance to IP when using 3DP/AM within DSCs. security strategy and on AM supply was that a effect of IP or a effect of securing IP or technical and approaches the most by a of technical and academic a of technical and technical and approaches when the effect of IP, yet a effect when securing Furthermore, a dual effect of IP or a dual effect of securing IP a and an a technical this and technical academic a for approaches and and The complexity on the by when IP was from the approaches they but was most was the of academic that may the on IP being in especially when using 3DP/AM within DSCs. This may also reflect within as a less innovation and more use and dissemination of IP to other of research is that are usually in their we with we more about their on these different in differing ways, in different or at different in the DSCs, which are for Furthermore, focus on 3DP/AM within DSCs may to findings for digital manufacturing supply chains and IP some the that and may be with research to the of in and digital manufacturing supply chains. The for using TPMs to secure IP for 3DP/AM applications within DSCs may be an means of and securing their own issues about the overreach of IP protection and the effect on the legitimate of by 3DP/AM in This may some and of using decentralized including printing and may innovation to 3DP/AM use within DSCs. that legitimate IP protection is an overreach rights may be a for research in 3DP/AM and DSCs, especially in the current of to conventional supply chains and the to production and increasing in of
Open access
Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies
Samuel Kernan Freire, Mina Foosherian, Chaofan Wang, Evangelos Niforatos
As agile manufacturing expands and workforce mobility increases, the importance of efficient knowledge transfer among factory workers grows. Cognitive Assistants (CAs) with Large Language Models (LLMs), like GPT-3.5, can bridge knowledge gaps and improve worker performance in manufacturing settings. This study investigates the opportunities, risks, and user acceptance of LLM-powered CAs in two factory contexts: textile and detergent production. Several opportunities and risks are identified through a literature review, proof-of-concept implementation, and focus group sessions. Factory representatives raise concerns regarding data security, privacy, and the reliability of LLMs in high-stake environments. By following design guidelines regarding persistent memory, real-time data integration, security, privacy, and ethical concerns, LLM-powered CAs can become valuable assets in manufacturing settings and other industries.
Živimo u globalnom, kulturološki različitom i tehnološki naprednom svijetu gdje se ‹high-tech› implementirao u gotovo svaku poru ljudskog djelovanja, a što je potencirala i dvogodišnja pandemija Covid-19 koja je „fizičke“ međuljudske odnose svela na minimum. U isto pak vrijeme, kao posljedica velikih socioloških, političkih i ekonomskih promjena vezanih uz postojeće i novonastale centre moći, nastaje jedna nova podvrsta, odnosno manifestacija digitalne umjetnosti nazvana kriptoumjetnost. U navedenom radu će se istražiti i pokazati kontekstualne veze između kriptoumjetnosti i kriptotržišta, glavnih pokretača i nositelja tih novih brzorastućih pojava mlađe generacije poduzetnika većinom IT industrije. Oni, ne prihvaćajući sustav vrijednosti „starih“ interesnih skupina čije se bogatstvo odnosno moć temelji na „starim“ prirodnim resursima (uglavnom naftnim), stvaraju svoj novi sustav vrijednosti baziran na manipulacijama vlastito stvorenih kriptovaluta stvarajući kriptotržište koje onda postaje njihov vlastiti centar moći baziran na subjektivnim manipulacijama, a unutar čega će se na raznim virtualnim platformama, odnosno Web 3.0 granama, istim tehnologijama kao i kod kriptovaluta (‹blockchain›) trgovati, odnosno posjedovati kriptoumjetnička djela, tj. NFT-jevi (‹Non-Fungible-Token›). S tim u vezi posebno će se istaknuti jedinstvenost vlasništva nad radovima kriptoumjetnosti, odnosno tehnologiji koja pojedino umjetničko djelo čini unikatom te pridati pozornost ‘otvorenom’ virtualnom tržištu, relativno jednostavno dostupnom svim zainteresiranim konzumentima, autorima ili kupcima. Cilj rada je identificirati pojam kriptoumjetnost, definirati njezine dijelove, odnosno analizirati pojedine segmente vizualnog NFT projekta, metodom komparacije naznačiti sličnosti i razlike unutar šire grupe digitalne umjetnosti kojoj pripada, dati uvid odnosno znanstveni prikaz raznovrsnih vizualnih NFT projekata i njihovih najznačajnijih autora NFT scene te, na kraju, hipotetski zaključiti postoji li, u sada već, mogli bismo reći, hiperprodukciji umjetničkih NFT radova međusobnih (estetskih) poveznica. Odnosno, možemo li govoriti o kolektivnoj estetici NFT radova unutar područja kriptoumjetnosti, odnosno uopće o (kripto)umjetnosti. U radu će se također istaknuti načini izlaganja te prihvaćanja NFT umjetničkih djela od strane institucija koje su tradicionalno mjerodavne u potvrđivanju valjanosti, odnosno vrijednosti umjetničkog djela kao što su muzeji, galerije, aukcijske kuće, kolekcionari, teoretičari i kritičari i sl.