The purpose of this e-course is to introduce participants to the concepts of smart manufacturing using blockchain solutions. The potential of blockchains across traditional industries has been widely discussed and is rapidly impacting APO member countries in all sectors and aspects of people’s lives. All countries face challenges in addressing the wide-ranging implications of blockchains and prioritizing targets, resources, and policy measures for digital transformation. It is thus necessary to establish a holistic understanding of the blockchain concept and its attendant solutions and develop strategies in response to the opportunities and challenges of distributed ledger technology (DLT).

Aligned with rise of disruptive digital technologies impacting industry transformation across the region, this course aims to introduce the background, concept, and applications of blockchains and examples of their use in various economic sectors. The course will raise awareness of blockchain solutions across different sectors and enhance the understanding and decision-making processes of participants in efforts to increase business performance and improve productivity through new disruptive digital technologies.

The course is structured around 6 modules, which are namely as follows:

Module 1: Overview of Blockchain Technologies
Module 2: Current Status and Classification of Blockchains
Module 3: Application Scenarios for Blockchains
Module 4: Overview of Supply Chains and Blockchains
Module 5: Overview of Industry 4.0
Module 6: Smart Manufacturing and Blockchain Solutions
There is also included a further reading list. This e-learning course includes six interim quizzes and modular structured open-ended exercises. Final Exam is also given which will be graded.

The objective of this course is to introduce participants to the concepts of smart manufacturing using blockchain solutions. Starting with an overview of current digital transformations in manufacturing processes including blockchain-related technologies, participants will be able to examine the evolution of blockchain infrastructure components from an end-user perspective and understand the relevance of blockchain technologies to achieve data-driven manufacturing. In particular, this course is intended to:

a) provide a basic understanding of blockchain concepts;
b) introduce case studies of blockchain applications with a particular focus on manufacturing;
c) enhance business processes through the deployment of blockchain solutions; and
d) explain the potential of blockchain solutions for better data protection, enhanced traceability, and securitizing assets.