Research Summaries

Back Blockchain Technology in Support of Navy Logistics and Global Supply Chains

Fiscal Year 2020
Division Research & Sponsored Programs
Department NPS Naval Research Program
Investigator(s) Kendall, Walter A.
Sponsor NPS Naval Research Program (Navy)
Summary Logistics performance can be reduced by administrative friction caused by audit requirements, trust issues from generated financial transactions and other admin processes. Could blockchain simplify and enable access and identity management for the Navy supply and logistics systems in a cost-effective manner to reduce this friction? How could blockchain improve Navy logistics at the macro (strategic or operational) level or the last tactical mile including at the Combat Logistics Officer (CLO) level? Blockchain is a tamper-resistant decentralized database used in many security applications to provide proof of trsaction where trust is implemented through distributed consensus and not centralized policy enforcement. The project would answer the following questions: What are the potential benefits/costs of blockchain and related technology for the Navy logistics and supply business transactions at the macro level or at the CLO (tactical) level? What type of blockchain technology and general architecture would best meet the Navy⿿s logistics/audit requirements that meet both security and other requirements? How can block chain technology reduce data entry errors in Navy business transactions? Would a ⿿consortium blockchain⿝ be the model for the Navy to adopt in their logistics system? We would review the capabilities and scope of the Navy supply and logistics systems (strategic down to CLO, tactical levels) to gain insight on how blockchain could add capability to Navy logistics and supply. Working with the sponsor we will identify and have a use case to illustrate a blockchain pilot application. It is hoped we will also have a thesis student for this project as he or she will provide additional insight.
Keywords Logistics Supply Supply Chain Workflow blockchain
Publications Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal
Data Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal