140,526 research outputs found
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
Coordination approaches and systems - part I : a strategic perspective
This is the first part of a two-part paper presenting a fundamental review and summary of research of design coordination and cooperation technologies. The theme of this review is aimed at the research conducted within the decision management aspect of design coordination. The focus is therefore on the strategies involved in making decisions and how these strategies are used to satisfy design requirements. The paper reviews research within collaborative and coordinated design, project and workflow management, and, task and organization models. The research reviewed has attempted to identify fundamental coordination mechanisms from different domains, however it is concluded that domain independent mechanisms need to be augmented with domain specific mechanisms to facilitate coordination. Part II is a review of design coordination from an operational perspective
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mPower: A component-based development framework for multi-agent systems to support business processes
One of the obstacles preventing the widespread adoption of multi-agent systems in industry is the difficulty of implementing heterogeneous interactions among participating agents via asynchronous messages. This difficulty arises from the need to understand how to combine elements of various content languages, ontologies, and interaction protocols in order to construct meaningful and appropriate messages. In this paper mPower, a component-based layered framework for easing the development of multi-agent systems, is described, and the facility for customising the components for reuse in similar domains is explained. The framework builds on the JADE-LEAP platform, which provides a homogeneous layer over diverse operating systems and hardware devices, and allows ubiquitous deployment of applications built on multi-agent systems both in wired and wireless environments. The use of the framework to develop mPowermobile , a multi-agent system to support mobile workforces, is reported
Operational design co-ordination : an agent based approach
Operational design co-ordination has been identified as the basis for an approach to engineering design management that is more comprehensive than those that currently exist. As such, an integrated and holistic approach to operational design co-ordination has been developed that enables design to be managed in a coherent, appropriate and timely manner. Furthermore, the approach has been implemented within an agent-based software system, called the Design Co-ordination System, which has been applied to an industrial case study involving the computational design analysis of turbine blades. This application demonstrates that managing and adjusting in real-time in an operationally co-ordinated manner enables reductions in the time taken to complete the turbine blade design process to be achieved
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