Dear auto-parts industry,

Blockchain offers you a way to get it right.

I live an a regional/remote location where people are dependant upon reliable personal transportation and farm equipment. When something breaks we generally make do and fix it ourselves. But when parts undeniably need replacing, we actually need to replace them with the ‘correct’ part. By correct, I mean ‘physically correct’. A part that is the clone or better of the part that is being replaced.

This is in contrast to what I shall call “Catalogue Correct” in which a part is looked up through a category tree of available parts by a trusted autoparts store salesman, for example, Make: Subaru…Year model: 2006… Engine size: 2.5lt…Transmission: Auto and so on. A part code is found and inventory says they have two in stock. Salesman even offers me a generous discount for buying both. The trade is done and I travel a considerable distance back home full of optimistic feelings that I can get the much needed car back on the road.

In this case I was replacing disk brakes. The new rotor went on like a charm. New pads in the caliper and as I’m cinching down on the caliper bolts I realise I can see the flesh of the brake pads out past the edge of the rotor!

Evidently, the only dimension that was incorrect on this rotor was the diameter. I ring the store, miffed again that I’ve been sold an incorrect part after providing correct information. Last time I was given a manual drive shaft when I’d asked for a auto one.

I rang the store to notify them of the mistake and we discovered it to be an incorrect year entry in the catalogue for the part. The rotors on my car are catalogued as for the following year’s model, and no, they don’t have any of those in stock. But the next shop does, which is only another hours drive further on. Too bad I’d come all the way home first.

Given my own experiences of the frequency of parts replacement failure, and I’m not even a mechanic, it is hard to comprehend how this after market industry operates with any efficiency at all. Perhaps it’s a contributing factor to its near complete demise in Australian manufacturing.

But there is now a technology of enormous potential in the relm of blockchain technology and crypto storage mediums such as IPFS (Inter-Planetry File System) or Ethereum’s Swarm storage system with which all parts to any car could potentially be looked up according to its VIN number, and every part number stored as an encoding of its actual physical specifications.

The blockchain can record each part against the VIN on the factory floor as the car is being built. And on blockchain, you don’t even need to keep a server! And neither do your after market distributors. The parts can be looked up anywhere with an internet connection.

Consider also the possibility of cryptographic proofs that your cars perform according to the salesman’s boasts and won’t, erh-hmm, understate their emissions.

And so when your customer is fully informed, then great confidence and trust can be gained between you.

I can assure you from that, frustrated owners, DIY’er and mechanics alike will sing hallelujah at being able to get the job done…the first time.

I suggest you can get in touch with the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance (EEA)which is an industry body that can help with the development of blockchain technology for your industry.

Regards,

An Ethereum DAPP Developer (unaffiliated with EEA)