Autonomous production unit: An architecture for blockchain-based shared manufacturing

Driven by technological advancements and the increasing need for efficiency and customization, the manufacturing industry is shifting towards Shared Manufacturing. This strategy enhances global production flexibility and resource utilization by enabling diverse entities to collaboratively engage in distributed manufacturing activities. Expanded resource sharing across industries and society, along with the redefinition of manufacturing resources as marketable services, creates a complex, interconnected production network that demands autonomous production control for effective and flexible management. This study proposes an architectural design for Autonomous Production Units within a blockchain-based Shared Manufacturing system. The design enhances autonomy, allowing independent management and optimization of manufacturing processes while integrating with the global market. The architecture includes two key decision-making submodules: the Business Decisions Submodule, which handles operational activities and interactions with the blockchain network, and the Manufacturing Decisions Submodule, which oversees physical manufacturing processes. The concept is implemented and tested on a case study, demonstrating the Autonomous Production Unit’s capability to autonomously execute the entire manufacturing process, from negotiation to manufacturing service execution, while also handling malfunctions.