Blockchain Technology for Global Decentralized Manufacturing: Challenges and Solutions for Supply Chain in Fourth Industrial Revolution

In this paper we introduce 3D-Chain, a decentralized solution based on blockchain technology to global manufacturing challenges for industry 4.0 revolution [1]. 3D-Chain aims to provide an ecosystem for manufacturers, designers, and consumer to interact efficiently without any restriction. Within this framework, the benefits of manufacturing become a global common infrastructure for all. Moreover, demand for personalized design is exponentially growing every year and soon dominate the manufacturing and the economy. However, manufacturing new items and personalized them are very expensive and time-consuming. 3D-Chain facilitates the mass customization through its network to answer this global demand and it is designed to incentivize and reward beneficial players. Developing and building innovation processes that prioritize global growth in economy, supporting software infrastructure for sustainable merge of fabrication technologies into a new decentralized manufacturing market, addressing cross-functional components in manufacturing and design, decentralizing manufacturing to increase performance and reduce waiting time and cost, unlocking mass customization, and Evaluating consumers, business, manufacturers, services providers, and suppliers are 3D-Chain’s mission and objectives. Keywords: 3D-Chain; Blockchain; Decentralize manufacturing; Additive manufacturing; Automated fabrication technologies