A Review on the Application of Blockchain for the Next Generation of Cybersecure Industry 4.0 Smart Factories

TL;DR

This review explores how blockchain technology can enhance security, trust, and decentralization in Industry 4.0 smart factories, analyzing benefits, challenges, and relevant applications to guide future development.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive review of blockchain applications in Industry 4.0, highlighting benefits, challenges, and offering guidance for future industrial cybersecurity solutions.

Findings

Blockchain enhances security and trust in Industry 4.0 applications.

Smart contracts facilitate automation and transparency.

Challenges include scalability and integration issues.

Abstract

Industry 4.0 is a concept devised for improving the way modern factories operate through the use of some of the latest technologies, like the ones used for creating Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), robotics or Big Data applications. One of such technologies is blockchain, which is able to add trust, security and decentralization to different industrial fields. This article focuses on analyzing the benefits and challenges that arise when using blockchain and smart contracts to develop Industry 4.0 applications. In addition, this paper presents a thorough review on the most relevant blockchain-based applications for Industry 4.0 technologies. Thus, its aim is to provide a detailed guide for future Industry 4.0 developers that allows for determining how blockchain can enhance the next generation of cybersecure industrial applications.