A Framework to Overcome Blockchain Enabled Sustainable Manufacturing Issues through Circular Economy and Industry 4.0 Measures

Abstract

Adoption of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) and sustainable manufacturing practices plays an important role for manufacturing industries to sustain their globe market reputation. However, the adoption of I4.0 technologies in manufacturing practices is more concern for manufacturing industries. Volatile customer demands, changing manufacturing trends and market scenario has forced manufacturing organization to revisit their production system and incorporate sustainability practices. Blockchain enabled practices helps to maintain transparency and traceability in supply chain as well as manufacturing activities. But lack of framework related to blockchain enabled sustainable manufacturing has become a serious concern for policymakers and practitioners. Similarly, due to changing market scenario it is important to identify the solutions to overcome the blockchain enabled sustainable manufacturing issues through circular economy and I4.0 solution measures. The present study identifies the 28 critical challenges and 22 I4.0 and circular economy based solution measures to overcome the issues of blockchain enabled sustainable manufacturing. Further, a case study in electronics manufacturing industries is used to test the developed framework using hybrid multi-criteria decision making approach. The case study findings that organizational and managerial challenges are critical to blockchain enabled sustainable manufacturing adoption. In the end of study, we have proposed an integrated framework for blockchain enabled sustainable manufacturing practices for energy, waste, resource, quality and life cycle management. It is expected that present study will be helpful for the researchers, practitioners and policymakers to understand the complications in the adoption of blockchain enabled sustainable manufacturing practices.

Keywords

• industry 4.0
• blockchain
• sustainable manufacturing
• decision making
• mcdm
• sustainability
• circular economy