Blockchain-based supply chain schedule coordination for off-site construction

Abstract

Compared to traditional on-site construction, off-site construction shifts its primary workflow from the field to the factory. This kind of transformation also causes the key to success in construction switches from various field operations to supply chain management. At the same time, the participants in the construction supply chain often have a silo mindset, which means they are often reluctant to share their information to improve the overall supply chain performance. This research used the design science method to develop a prototype artifact as a possible solution for unreliable schedule planning. A streamlined supply chain workflow and a blockchain-based prototype have been built. The shared information structure has been realized in a smart contract. Compared with the traditional workflow, the proposed method gives a transparent and reliable way to improve supply chain performance. After the development of the prototype, its functionality was tested with a test environment in the validation section. As a contribution to the current body of knowledge, this research explored the potential opportunity to implement blockchain in supply chain schedule coordination and management.