Exploring the Means and Benefits of Including Blockchain Smart Contracts to a Smart Manufacturing Environment: Water Bottling Plant Case Study

Abstract

Blockchain smart contracts are increasingly becoming prominent with applications in all spheres of industry. The main advantages of blockchains that promulgate their use are the increased security, transparency, and traceability that it offers to users. This article explores how a blockchain smart contract can be incorporated into a smart manufacturing environment and what are its plausible benefits. This article is written based on research done on the case study of a Make-to-Order water bottling plant. The current challenge that necessitated this research stems from customer's need for transparency on the contents of the bottled water, date of filling, date of packaging, and elimination of third-party deliveries. The hypothesis of the research is that these challenges can be overcome by incorporating blockchain smart contracts into the water bottling plant.