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Top1. Introduction
Supply chain management is the flow of activities of a product that is from extracting raw materials of the product to delivering it to customers. It involves planning, controlling and execution. In the model flow of medicines which has a dataset with columns describing about different information related to the drugs has a lot of disadvantages such as lack of transparency, limited security, tampering etc. The model tries to solve few of such problems.
Distributed database management system is a centralized software system where data stored is spread physically across different location but interconnected over a network in manner as if it were all stored in a single location. Though there are a lot of advantages of DDBMS there are several disadvantages as well. To maintain a synchronized database, an update in one database must be reflected in all the other databases. There also exists a problem of concurrency where multiple transactions cannot be executed simultaneously while maintaining ACID properties. This model uses Blockchain to solve a few major problems of Supply chain management which uses distributed database currently. A blockchain solves problem of tampering, security and provides transparency because it is a distributed, decentralized and digital public ledger. (Tian, 2017) Motivation for the model is the problems faced by supply chain management which are lack of end-to-end visibility, limited security, lack of transparency and tampering.
A lot of companies lack in an end to end visibility of the supply chain which might cause risks such as a fraud. It is possible to easily manipulate data in the database by a third party in a regular supply chain management system using DDBMS as it has less security. Along with maintaining security providing transparency is also important which is typically not present in the earlier system. Tampering information is the major problem, anybody can tamper official records and source wouldn’t be known. There are many advantages of DBMS but it also has some drawbacks like problems related to concurrency, synchronization and integrity. There are many disadvantages to DDBMS too. To maintain a synchronized database, an update in one database must be reflected in all the other databases. There also exists a problem of concurrency where multiple transactions cannot be executed simultaneously while maintaining ACID properties and blockchain is required to solve this problem.
Supply chain Management too, has a lot of disadvantages such as lack of transparency, limited security, tampering etc. Machine learning and Blockchain is required to solve this problem with google assistant as the front end of the model and a database with all the information about the medicines at the back end of the model.
The system adds blockchain features such as decentralized control, immutability, creation and movement of digital assets to the distributed database. To solve the problems related to concurrency, synchronization and integrity related to DDBMS. And to maintain a synchronized database, an update in one database must be reflected in all the other databases. There also exists a problem of concurrency where multiple transactions cannot be executed simultaneously while maintaining ACID properties. To solve problems in supply chain such as lack of transparency, limited security, tampering etc.
The prices of the medicines keep fluctuating. The place of manufacture of the medicines and other important details are not clearly mentioned. The model focuses on retrieving such data with ease and at the same time maintaining the security aspect of it. In a supply chain, there are several individuals collaborating and exchanging information with one another. i.e. about the processes of tracking goods that are being manufactured until they reach the logical end of the supply chain cycle that is retailers and consumers.
The issue faced by these individuals collaborating in supply chain is the management and security of the information that is available. It is a hassle to manage large datasets. The management of information can be made easy by using Blockchain technology which can help organizing this data in a shared system. It also provides security to the collaborating individuals so that they can trust the data even when they don’t trust each other and helps provide immutability to the artist claims.