Taylor Guitars and Blockchain
Yen-Ting Lin, David Pyke, and Kristina Feghali
School of Business, University of San Diego, USA
Volume 13: 2019, pp. 23-50; ABSTRACT
Improving the tracing and tracking of material in supply chains is one of the potential benefits of blockchain technology. Taylor Guitars is a guitar manufacturer that is renowned for exceptionally high quality guitars, as well as for innovation in guitar manufacturing technology and unique efforts in sustainable wood sourcing. This case describes Taylor’s participation in a pilot project to explore the potential of blockchain in the wood products industry. The pilot project confirmed some of the benefits, but it also revealed many challenges. At the time of the case, Charlie Redden, Director of Supply Chain at Taylor Guitars, needed to decide whether Taylor Guitars should pursue a full blockchain implementation or decline to continue with the project.
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