Multi Site Coordination using a Multi-Agent System

A new approach of coordination of decisions in a multi site system is proposed. It is based this approach on a multi-agent concept and on the principle of distributed network of enterprises. For this purpose, each enterprise is defined as autonomous and performs simultaneously at the local and global levels. The basic component of our approach is a so-called Virtual Enterprise Node (VEN), where the enterprise network is represented as a set of tiers (like in a product breakdown structure). Within the network, each partner constitutes a VEN, which is in contact with several customers and suppliers. Exchanges between the VENs ensure the autonomy of decision, and guarantiee the consistency of information and material flows. Only two complementary VEN agents are necessary: one for external interactions, the Negotiator Agent (NA) and one for the planning of internal decisions, the Planner Agent (PA). If supply problems occur in the network, two other agents are defined: the Tier Negotiator Agent (TNA) working at the tier level only and the Supply Chain Mediator Agent (SCMA) working at the level of the enterprise network. These two agents are only active when the perturbation occurs. Otherwise, the VENs process the flow of information alone. With this new approach, managing enterprise network becomes much more transparent and looks like managing a simple enterprise in the network. The use of a Multi-Agent System (MAS) allows physical distribution of the decisional system, and procures a heterarchical organization structure with a decentralized control that guaranties the autonomy of each entity and the flexibility of the network

Analyzing combined vehicle routing and break scheduling from a distributed decision making perspective

We analyze the problem of combined vehicle routing and break scheduling from a distributed decision making perspective. The problem of combined vehicle routing and break scheduling can be defined as the problem of finding vehicle routes to serve a set of customers such that a cost criterion is minimized and legal rules on driving and working hours are observed. In the literature, this problem is always analyzed from a central planning perspective. In practice, however, this problem is solved interactively between planners and drivers. In\ud many practical scenarios, the planner first clusters the customer requests and instructs the drivers which customers they have to visit. Subsequently, the drivers decide upon the routes to be taken and their break schedules. We apply a framework for distributed decision making to model this planning scenario and propose various ways for planners to anticipate the drivers' planning behavior. Especially in the case of antagonistic objectives, which are often encountered in practice, a distributed decision making perspective is necessary to analyze this planning process. Computational experiments demonstrate that a high degree of anticipation by the planner has a strong positive impact on the overall planning quality, especially in the case of conflicting planner's and drivers' objectives

Adaptation of coordination mechanisms to network structures

The coordination efficiency of Supply Chain Management is determined by two opposite poles: benefit from improved planning results and associated coordination cost. The centralization grade, applied coordination mechanisms and IT support have influence on both categories. Therefore three reference types are developed and subsequently detailed in business process models for different network structures. In a simulation study the performance of these organization forms are compared in a process plant network. Coordination benefit is observed if the planning mode is altered by means of a demand planning IT tool. Coordination cost is divided into structural and activity-dependent cost. The activity level rises when reactive planning iterations become necessary as a consequence of inconsistencies among planning levels. Some characteristic influence factors are considered to be a reason for uninfeasible planning. In this study the effect of capacity availability and stochastic machine downtimes is investigated in an uncertain demand situation. Results that if the network runs with high overcapacity, central planning is less likely to increase benefit enough to outweigh associated cost. Otherwise, if capacity constraints are crucial, a central planning mode is recommendable. When also unforeseen machine downtimes are low, the use of sophisticated IT tools is most profitablePeer Reviewe

Enhancing Enterprise Resilience through Enterprise Collaboration

Current environments, characterised by turbulent changes and unforeseen events, consider resilience as a decisive aspect for enterprises to create advantages over less adaptive competitors. Furthermore, the consideration of establishing collaborative processes among partners of the same network is a key issue to help enterprises to deal with changeable environments. In this paper both concepts, resilience and collaborative processes establishment, are associated in order to help organisations to handle disruptive events. The research objective is to identify collaborative processes whose positive influences assist enterprises against disruptions, reducing the effects of disturbances in dynamic environments.Andres, B.; Poler R. (2013). Enhancing Enterprise Resilience through Enterprise Collaboration. IFAC papers online. 7(1):688-693. doi:10.3182/20130619-3-RU-3018.00283S6886937

Multi-behavior agent model for supply chain management

Recent economic and international threats to occidental industries have encouraged companies to rethink their planning systems. Due to consolidation, the development of integrated supply chains and the use of inter-organizational information systems have increased business interdependencies and the need for collaboration. Thus, agility and the ability to deal quickly with disturbances in supply chains are critical to maintain overall performance. In order to develop tools to increase the agility of the supply chain and to promote the collaborative management of such disturbances, agent-based technology takes advantage of the ability of agents to make autonomous decisions in a distributed network. This paper proposes a multi-behavior agent model using different decision making approaches in a context where planning decisions are supported by a distributed advanced planning system (d-APS). The implementation of this solution is realized through the FOR@C experimental agent-based platform, dedicated to the supply chain planning for the forest products industry

Multi-Behavior Agent Model for Supply Chain Management

Recent economic and international threats to occidental industries have encouraged companies to rethink their planning systems. Due to consolidation, the development of integrated supply chains and the use of inter-organizational information systems have increased business interdependencies and the need for collaboration. Thus, agility and the ability to deal quickly with disturbances in supply chains are critical to maintain overall performance. In order to develop tools to increase the agility of the supply chain and to promote the collaborative management of such disturbances, agent-based technology takes advantage of the ability of agents to make autonomous decisions in a distributed network. This paper proposes a multi-behavior agent model using different decision making approaches in a context where planning decisions are supported by a distributed advanced planning system (d-APS). The implementation of this solution is realized through the FOR@C experimental agent-based platform, dedicated to the supply chain planning for the forest products industry

Coordination mechanisms in supply chain

This thesis attempts to analyze coordination mechanisms between producers and suppliers in a supply chain. Since the entities in a supply chain work usually independently each from the other, it is of crucial importance to develop coordination mechanisms so that they can set their objectives together and coordinate their activities to optimize the global system performance. In the first part, some recent optimization models of coordination will be studied and discussed, like capacitated planning models for producers, lot-sizing models for suppliers and the ideal model with cooperation and sharing information from both parties. The second part will consist in extending some of these coordination models to include some additional furthers. For example, some models will be extended to the case where more competing suppliers and producers are involved. Then, a numerical investigation will also be undertaken to compare the different types of anticipation of the producer and their effects, compared to an ideal situation which performs a complete integration of the supplier into the producers model, a situation that is really difficult to apply in the real world. Moreover, the same investigation through the extended models would be undertaken to test and validate these new models. There will be a comparison between three types of models, concerning the effect of incrementing the number of suppliers, the number of producers and the number of both of them. Finally, it will be deduced that the best model for the producer would be having a reactive anticipation of the supplier’s model, that is create a closer coordination which will benefit not only the producer but also the supplier. Although it is difficult to implement compared with the other two models and the information about the supplier is difficult to find, it would have a really good improvement on the final cost nearly as good as the ideal model. Related to the multiple parties, it has been concluded that in general terms the best model is the one with an individual producer and supplier. But looking more in detail there are some improvements in the total cost when the producer is divided by smaller producers, having less productivity each one. In that case, and depending on the features of the supplier, it may be some improvements on the total cost of the supply chain.Outgoin

Value of supplier's capacity information in a two-echelon supply chain

Cataloged from PDF version of article.In traditional supply chain models it is generally assumed that full information is available to all parties involved. Although this seems reasonable, there are cases where chain members are independent agents and possess different levels of information. In this study, we analyze a two-echelon, single supplier-multiple retailers supply chain in a single-period setting where the capacity of the supplier is limited. Embedding the lack of information about the capacity of the supplier in the model, we aim to analyze the reaction of the retailers, compare it with the full-information case, and assess the value of information and the effects of information asymmetry using game theoretic analysis. In our numerical studies, we conclude that the value of information is highly dependent on the capacity conditions and estimates of the retailers, and having information is not necessarily beneficial to the retailers