Morvarid Derakhshan Andisheh Journal of Quality Engineering and Management 2322-1305 15 4 2025 12 22 Reliability enhancing in hospital pharmaceutical supply chains using a blockchain-based system dynamics approach Reliability enhancing in hospital pharmaceutical supply chains using a blockchain-based system dynamics approach 468 488 234473 10.48313/jqem.2025.544998.1572 FA Hamidreza Savarolia Department of Industrial Engineering, Mazandaran University of Science and Technology, Babol, Iran. Babak Shirazi Department of Industrial Engineering, Mazandaran University of Science and Technology, Babol, Iran. 0000-0002-0424-5350 Iraj Mahdavi Department of Industrial Engineering, Mazandaran University of Science and Technology, Babol, Iran. Ali Tajdin Department of Industrial Engineering, Mazandaran University of Science and Technology, Babol, Iran. Journal Article 2025 05 03 <strong><span>Purpose:</span></strong><span> This paper examines how blockchain technology can improve reliability and operational performance in hospital pharmaceutical supply chains with a focus on inventory variability and responsiveness to demand.<br><strong>Methodology:</strong> A system dynamics model of a three-echelon chain (manufacturer–distributor–hospital) is developed. Two information-sharing scenarios are compared: a traditional setting with centralized, delayed information and a blockchain setting with real-time, decentralized data sharing.<br><strong>Findings:</strong> Results indicate that blockchain adoption enhances behavioral stability, reduces the persistence of hospital backlog, and shortens mean delivery lead time. Specifically, mean lead time decreases by ~15.1% and mean hospital backlog decreases by ~15.8% (both statistically significant). However, the difference in mean hospital inventory is not significant; stability improves, with inventory SD decreasing by ~21.5% and lead-time SD decreasing by ~10%. Taken together, these effects strengthen service reliability and overall supply-chain performance.<br><strong>Originality/Value:</strong> By integrating blockchain-based decentralized data sharing with system dynamics modeling in the hospital pharmaceutical context, this study provides quantitative evidence of how transparency supports quality-oriented supply chain management.</span> <strong><span>Purpose:</span></strong><span> This paper examines how blockchain technology can improve reliability and operational performance in hospital pharmaceutical supply chains with a focus on inventory variability and responsiveness to demand.<br><strong>Methodology:</strong> A system dynamics model of a three-echelon chain (manufacturer–distributor–hospital) is developed. Two information-sharing scenarios are compared: a traditional setting with centralized, delayed information and a blockchain setting with real-time, decentralized data sharing.<br><strong>Findings:</strong> Results indicate that blockchain adoption enhances behavioral stability, reduces the persistence of hospital backlog, and shortens mean delivery lead time. Specifically, mean lead time decreases by ~15.1% and mean hospital backlog decreases by ~15.8% (both statistically significant). However, the difference in mean hospital inventory is not significant; stability improves, with inventory SD decreasing by ~21.5% and lead-time SD decreasing by ~10%. Taken together, these effects strengthen service reliability and overall supply-chain performance.<br><strong>Originality/Value:</strong> By integrating blockchain-based decentralized data sharing with system dynamics modeling in the hospital pharmaceutical context, this study provides quantitative evidence of how transparency supports quality-oriented supply chain management.</span> https://www.pqprc.ir/article_234473_ca21db56005341147f9a66eb9c973190.pdf