Blockchain Mergence and Reconditioning Blockchain to Enable Global Supply Chain Assurance

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Authors
Hale, Britta
Brutzman, Don
Culbert, Jonathan
Norbraten, Terry
Subjects
Blockchain Mergence
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT)
Hyperledger Fabric (HLF)
Advisors
Date of Issue
2020-11
Date
November 2020
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
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.
Type
Technical Report
Description
Approved for public release: distribution unlimited.
Series/Report No
Department
Computer Science (CS)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
NPS-CS-21-001
Sponsors
DCNO (Fleet Readiness & Logistics) (N4) Office of the Chief of Naval Operations 2000 Navy Pentagon Washington, DC 20350-2000
Naval Research Program Management Office Naval Postgraduate School
Funder
Naval Research Program (NRP)
Format
43 p.
Citation
Distribution Statement
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. As such, it is in the public domain, and under the provisions of Title 17, United States Code, Section 105, it may not be copyrighted.