Blockchain Module for Securing Data Traffic of Industrial Production Machinery on Industrial Platforms 4.0

Industry 4.0 (the Fourth Industrial Revolution) is a concept devised for improving the operation of modern factories through the use of the latest technologies, under paradigms such as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) or Big Data. One of such technologies is Blockchain, which is able to provide industrial processes with security, trust, traceability, reliability and automation. This paper proposes a technological framework that combines an information sharing platform and a Blockchain platform. One of the main features of the this framework is the use of smart contracts for validating and auditing the content received throughout the production process to ensure the correct traceability of the data. The conclusion drawn from this study is that this technology is under-researched and has significant potential to support and enhance the industrial revolution. Moreover, this study identifies areas for future research.