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

Mediator-based communication, negotiation and scheduling for decentralised production management

Recent trends in industry towards autonomous and co-operative production systems and latest developments in data network technologies have created new opportunities for enhancing the co-operation of production networks. In order to take advantage of the emerged opportunities, an approach based on a software system called Mediator has been developed. The Mediator provides order planning support necessary to integrate decisionmaking and scheduling of several actors in decentralised business organisations. The approach will be demonstrated in the context of order planning in multi-site and supplychain production

Multi-agent system architectures for collaborative prognostics

This paper provides a methodology to assess the optimal Multi-Agent architecture for collaborative prognostics in modern fleets of assets. The use of Multi- Agent Systems has been shown to improve the ability to predict equipment failures by enabling machines with communication and collaborative learning capabilities. Di fferent architectures have been postulated for industrial Multi-Agent Systems in general. A rigorous analysis of the implications of their implementation for collaborative prognostics is essential to guide industrial deployment. In this paper, we investigate the cost and reliability implications of using di fferent Multi-Agent Systems architectures for collaborative failure prediction and maintenance optimization in large fleets of industrial assets. Results show that purely distributed architectures are optimal for high-value assets, while hierarchical architectures optimize communication costs for low-value assets. This enables asset managers to design and implement Multi-Agent systems for predictive maintenance that signi ficantly decrease the whole-life cost of their assets.The project that has generated these results has been supported by a la Caixa Fellowship (ID 100010434), with code LCF/BQ/EU17/11590049. This research was partly supported by Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery UK. This research was also partly supported by the Next Generation Converged Digital Infrastructure project (EP/R004935/1) funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and BT. The server used to perform the experiments in this paper was funded by the Centre for Digital Built Britain