Improving material quality management and manufacturing organizations system through Industry 4.0 technologies

In these changing times, Industry 4.0 technologies are being adopted in many parts of the world. These technologies are used to develop smart materials, smart factories, smart logistics, smart warehousing and smart supply chains. In the business aspect, it has the potential to solve complex manufacturing problems. This paper provides a thorough study of various Industry 4.0 technologies for improving the material quality and manufacturing systems. We have listed out various available technologies, their characteristics, and benefits of effective management in the upcoming industries. Digital technologies help companies optimize their material wastage and inventory which ends up in cost reductions. With remote collaboration, on-site and off-site employees can easily collaborate as and when needed. These technologies ultimately reduce communication gaps and help them stay up to date with the information. Smart predictive analysis will help to properly monitor the equipment in the industries using Industry 4.0 technologies. Faults in materials can be detected and resolved at an early stage. Further, this provides transparency in the systems and processes and fulfills the required expectation of the customer. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Second International Conference on Aspects of Materials Science and Engineering (ICAMSE 2021).

Blockchain technology and its applications to combat COVID-19 pandemic

Background and aims: The world is currently facing multifaceted problems due to the emergence of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Blockchain technology (BT) plays a vital role in creating a platform for adequately managing the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The latest information on the blockchain and its application in solving challenging problems due to the COVID-19 pandemic are collected and discussed from the available literature searched through PubMed, Scopus, and Google scholar. Results: In this paper, we propose a blockchain-based platform to combat this pandemic. Furthermore, we have identified and discussed nine significant applications of blockchain in solving the problem arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: The severity of COVID-19 was so tremendous that the World Health Organization (WHO) had to declare it as a pandemic within a month of its full-scale expansion. The greatest challenge most governments are suffering from is the lack of a precise mechanism to detect the newly infected cases and predict coronavirus infection risk. So, we need a technology-empowered solution to fight during this COVID-19 crisis. The various features of blockchain technology, such as decentralization, transparency, and immutability, can help control this pandemic by early detection of outbreaks, fast-tracking drug delivery, and protecting user privacy during treatment. © 2020, Sociedade Brasileira de Engenharia Biomedica.