Managing blockchains in an industrial facility based on firmware change

A method, comprising:

• executing, by an industrial device comprising a processor, an industrial control program that processes input signals received from respective input devices of an industrial automation system;
• controlling, by the industrial device, output signals to respective output devices of the industrial automation system based on the executing;
• and
• generating, by the industrial device, a plant model blockchain that models the industrial automation system based on identity information and status information received from the input devices and the output devices as the input devices and the output devices are powered up and report their respective identity information and status information,
• wherein the generating comprises
• recording, in the plant model blockchain, at least firmware version information for one or more devices of the industrial automation system, and
• in response to detecting a change to a state of a machine of the industrial automation system, recording the change as a transaction within the plant model blockchain, the change to the state comprising at least a change of a firmware version applied to a device associated with the machine.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, in response to execution, cause an industrial device comprising a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

• executing an industrial control program that processes input signals received from respective input devices of an industrial automation system;
• controlling output signals to respective output devices of the industrial automation system based on the executing;
• and
• generating a plant model blockchain that models the industrial automation system based on identity information and status information received from the input devices and the output devices as the input devices and the output devices are powered up and report their respective identity information and status information,
• wherein the generating comprises
• recording, in the plant model blockchain, at least firmware version information for one or more devices of the industrial automation system, and
• in response to detecting a change to a state of a machine of the industrial automation system, recording the change as a transaction within the plant model blockchain, wherein the change to the state comprises at least a change of a firmware version installed on a device associated with the machine.