Turkish Journal of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation; 32(2) ISSN 2651-4451 | e-ISSN 2651-446X A NOVEL TECHNIQUE FOR SECURING SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT USING BLOCKCHAIN Reet Tuteja1, K. C. Prabu Shankar2 1Computer Science Engineering SRM Institute of Science and Technology Chennai, India 2Assistant Professor Computer Science Engineering SRM Institute of Science and Technology Chennai, India [email protected], [email protected] ABSTRACT The supply chain management chain represents the process taken to get a product or service from its beginning stage to the final that is the customer. In supply chain management, Real-time analysis and mapping are critical, especially in industries with multiple parties. This paper talks about the evolution of the supply chain and its needs and requirements for successful management and describes a system that tackles the flaws of a general supply chain. The proposed system consists of the application of blockchain technology, Quick Response Code integrated into a real-time view. The QR code allows us to monitor, report, send, and exchange data and helps us providereal-time transactions whereas the Blockchain providers a secure area or block to save such information and makes it possible to form a decentralized system and full transparency thereby increasing reliability. The proposed system is a decentralized exchange to exchange logistics application that stores the whereabouts of products at every hub or warehouse on the Blockchain. The consumer should be able to track and receive complete information about the product just by scanning a QR code. This helps customers to buy quality products without worrying about fraud. Data like origin, place of storage, authenticity, property certificates, records are stored in a single ledger and given tags which can either be private or public to secure the supply chain. Any inconsistency in the data or validation leads to detection of fraud from the very start of the transaction and allows us to take necessary investigation and steps at an ideal time. This offers a much better transactional background transparency than a centralized framework, and as a result, transactions are carried out without relying on the specific trust of a third party, but rather on the collective trust of several other blockchain users. To fulfill the requirements of a supply chain, there is no single technology, but rather a combination of different systems and processes, as seen in the architecture proposed in this project. Keywords – Supply chain management, Blockchain technology, Quick Response Code, transparency, real- time tracking, decentralized I. INTRODUCTION A supply chain is a network that connects a business and its suppliers in order to manufacture and deliver a specific product to end-users. Various roles, individuals, organizations, knowledge, and resources together form this network. In the Agriculture and Food Domain, it is cleverly described as “farm-to-fork”. The evolution of supply chain management was reflected in the growing level of diversification, a practice that was emphasized in the 1960s as the system was highly fragmented. In the 1970s and 1980s, the system was initially grouped into two separate operations related to material management and physical distribution. This process continued through the 1990s as global trade encouraged more efficient integration and production of goods where all supply chain elements form part of a single management vision. However, it was only through the use of modern technology and communications that a complete integration came into existence with the emergence of supply chain management. Every product goes through a series of steps from origin to end but this history is often obscured or www.turkjphysiotherrehabil.org 3467 Turkish Journal of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation; 32(2) ISSN 2651-4451 | e-ISSN 2651-446X distorted which can eventually lead to the revelation of unethical practices in the future. The below diagram gives us a basic understanding of how the supply chain works. Raw materials are transported to suppliers where it is combined to form basic parts. These basic parts are sent to producers or manufacturers to create the final product. The product can either be sent to a warehouse for long-term storage or to distributors which further send it to their network of retailers. Retailers make the product available to customers at easily accessible locations. The cycle continues if there is a demand. Figure 1. Supply Chain Cycle Supply chain management is an extremely important process and companies create advanced andinnovative supply chains to reduce costs and enable a quicker manufacturing cycle in order to compete effectively in the marketplace. In an efficient supply chain, the application of supply chain can be narrowed down to the following critically strategic fields namely purchasing, sourcing, Asset tracking, Demand processing, Inventory control, logistics, and client relations. Although they seem to be independent structures, they are highly dependent on each other. Purchasing is the process of obtaining services or goods or raw materials to fulfill the goals of an organization. Sourcing or manufacturing is the creation of merchandise by certain processes or formulation through machines and labor. It is the conversion of a finished good from raw material on a large scale. These products can be used as it is or can be used to create even larger and more complex objects. Asset tracking or inventory management's goal is to maintain consistent production, sales, and client support requirements at a feasible cost. Since the establishment is the largest financial asset in many businesses, problems with the establishment could lead to loss or failure of the company. Demand processing or planning is the method of prognosticating consumer demand in order for a service or productdelivery and management organization to drive the execution of these needs. The administrative and physical tasks associated with the storage of goods and resources are referred to as storage. Receiving, finding, testing, confirming, analyzing a problem, and so on are examples of these functions. Transportation plays a crucial role in the supply chain because it is basically where the rubber meets the road. A business might have the best commodity in the right place at the right time, but it would not meet consumers timely if it does not have the right movement. The method of making certain client loyalty and satisfaction with a certain commodity is known as customer service. Every company finds product traceability and tracking a necessity. Tracking technology helps users to be aware of the precise location of the commodities at any given time, allowing for exact and timely transactions between the different parties involved. This additionally makes for a more efficient analyzation because retailers, vendors, www.turkjphysiotherrehabil.org 3468 Turkish Journal of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation; 32(2) ISSN 2651-4451 | e-ISSN 2651-446X and other companies will be aware ofwhen the shipments will deliver, making manufacturing and delivery plans easy to prepare. Location tracking helps in ensuring the shipping safety process as you'll always be aware of the whereabouts of your shipment. The risk of fraud or other damages will be reduced as a result of this. If shipments are late, you will have the option to consider their path through the supply chain, discover what the challenges are, and solve them. The world is slowly leaning towards Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) which is a powerful technology a fully automated identification via radio waves, but currently, the technology has limited acceptance and very high cost. In this paper, the tracking solution is using Quick Response code (QR code) which is a simple, inexpensive replacement to RFID. QR code will help us with tag generation, image acquisition, pre-processing performance, inventory management, and tracking. Organizations use QR codes to track more than product names and prices like serial numbers, component numbers, lots and dates, present URLs, geo coordinates, text, and other data. QR codes are also good replacements for barcodes. They store up to a hundred times the maximum information that can be stored in a barcode. With the increase in the adaption of a more efficient supply chain, certain challenges are faced in the supply chain which can hinder its goal. These are Multiple Separate players, Lack of transparency, Discrepancies in records, Globalization, and Maintaining high performance. Customers purchase goods across a variety of outlets, and the basic supply chain has to change as the demand grows. Prices and demand are rising all over the supply network, adding constraints on profit margins. Such expenses originate from a range of places, and a lack of awareness or disclosure and transparency can lead to higher operational costs. Every product goes through a series of steps from origin to end but this history is often obscured or distorted which can lead to the revelation of unethical practices in the future. Currently, the tracking systems that exist are not capable enough to identify the transferable product content or have data like commoditiesthat have been tampered with. Changing the product control system necessitates a significant financial commitment, as well as time and personnel. If not adequately used, there would be a waste of staff, reduction of service, and non-existent deadlines, all of which would result in substantial costs. Major