An agent-based dynamic information network for supply chain management

One of the main research issues in supply chain management is to improve the global efficiency of supply chains. However, the improvement efforts often fail because supply chains are complex, are subject to frequent changes, and collaboration and information sharing in the supply chains are often infeasible. This paper presents a practical collaboration framework for supply chain management wherein multi-agent systems form dynamic information networks and coordinate their production and order planning according to synchronized estimation of market demands. In the framework, agents employ an iterative relaxation contract net protocol to find the most desirable suppliers by using data envelopment analysis. Furthermore, the chain of buyers and suppliers, from the end markets to raw material suppliers, form dynamic information networks for synchronized planning. This paper presents an agent-based dynamic information network for supply chain management and discusses the associated pros and cons

A negotiation protocol to support agent argumentation and ontology interoperability in MAS-based virtual enterprises

The virtual enterprise (VE), which is formed according to some business opportunities through the collaboration of supply chain partners, is an effective way of business operation in the dynamic global market. This paper proposes an automated negotiation protocol for multi-agent system (MAS) based virtual enterprises. Firstly, to facilitate the functional integration of VEs, a MAS framework is developed to represent the whole life cycle of VEs. Secondly, a negotiation protocol supporting agent argumentation and ontology interoperability between agents is designed to handle the one-to-many negotiation scenarios in the VE context. The negotiation ontology is defined to combine the negotiation domain knowledge. Meanwhile, the ontology interoperability and agent argumentation mechanism is illustrated to ensure agents' mutual understandings. Finally, the proposed MAS framework is implemented upon the JADE platform. Simulation experiments are carried out to verify the agent interaction sequences in the negotiation protocol. © 2010 IEEE.published_or_final_versionThe 7th International Conference on Information Technology: New Generations (ITNG 2010), Las Vegas, NV., 12-14 April 2010. In Proceedings of the 7th ITNG, 2010, p. 448-45

A MAS framework for the negotiation based operational integration of virtual enterprises

The virtual enterprise (VE) is an effective way of business operation in the dynamic global market. This paper proposes a multi-agent system (MAS) framework for the negotiation based operational integration of VEs. Firstly, integrating the major VE operational activities into agent functions, a MAS framework is developed to represent the whole life cycle of VEs. Secondly, a negotiation protocol supporting agent argumentation is designed to handle the partner selection and conflict solving negotiation scenarios in the VE context. Finally, the proposed MAS framework is implemented upon the JADE platform. Simulation experiments have been carried out to verify the agent interaction sequences in the negotiation protocol. ©2010 IEEE.published_or_final_versionThe 4th Annual IEEE Systems Conference, 2010, San Diego, CA., 5-8 April 2010. In Conference Proceedings, 2010, p. 535-54

A Novel Partner Selection Method in Virtual Enterprise Based on the Ontology and SOA and AHPmodel

Partner selection is a key problem in virtual enterprise. This paper researches on selecting the dynamic, Competitive and compatible partners, which is the key link in the establishment of virtual enterprise. this paper presented a method have two main steps , first step is detecting candidate partner using semantic concept and second step is selecting proper partner using competency and quality of service in AHP method . The advantage of this method scrutiny of partner selection problem , and partner selection in this method occur dynamic and automation

Ontoloji tabanlı çok-etmenli sanal fabrika sisteminin tasarımı ve geliştirilmesi.

Major developments in computers and information technologies, enable industrial and mechanical engineers to establish new net based, virtual collaboration platforms for enterprises. Benefiting from virtual enterprise platform enterprises will be able to combine their resources and capabilities on project based collaborations meanwhile protect their independent mainstream policies and secure their secret information. This concept is called virtual enterprise(VE). Virtual Enterprise (VE) is a collaboration model between multiple business partners in a value chain. The VE model is particularly feasible and appropriate for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) and industry parks containing multiple SMEs that have different vertical competencies. One of the main targets of this research is to create an Ontology based Multi Agent Virtual Enterprise (OMAVE) System to prepare an appropriate platform for collaboration between technology start-ups in techno-parks and SMEs in Organized Industrial Zones in order to produce high value added high-tech products. OMAVE aims to help SMEs to shift from classic trend of manufacturing part pieces towards high-tech, innovative and research based products. In this way and to reach this goal a new semantic data infrastructure to enhance Re-Configurability and Flexibility of virtual enterprise systems has been developed. In order to support flexibility in Virtual Enterprise business processes and enhance its integration to enterprises' available manufacturing systems (e.g. MRP) an ontology based domain model of VE system has been established. OWL DL semantic data structure of VE by defining concepts, axioms, rules and functions in VE system has been developed. TDB data store to keep VE data and information in form of triples developed. SPARQL semantic RDF query language is used to handle and manipulate data on developed system data store. This architecture supports structure flexibility for developed VE infrastructure and improve reusability of data and knowledge in VE life cycle. To establish a multi agent based partner selection platform different agent types have been developed. These agents collaborate and compete with each other to select the most appropriate partner for the forthcoming VE project consortium. The agent based auctioning platform is coupled with a Fuzzy-AHP-TOPSIS multi criteria decision making algorithm to evaluate incoming bids from agents and rank proposals in each iteration. It is also important to notice that here, agents interaction's semantic is provided by an agent ontology. This agent ontology provides concepts, properties and all message formats for agents to settle a common language in interactions between agents. Implementing concurrent engineering, collaborative design and Product Life Cycle Management (PLM) concepts by integrating Dassault systems web based CATIA/ENOVIA V6 design and PLM tools to OMAVE system. To test and verify these achievements a case study to produce a test product by using developed OMAVE tools is established. This test product manufactured by contributions of SMEs from OSTIM organized Industrial Zone Aviation and Defense Cluster.Ph.D. - Doctoral Progra

Mass Customization of Cloud Services - Engineering, Negotiation and Optimization

Several challenges hinder the entry of mass customization principles into Cloud computing: Firstly, the service engineering on provider side needs to be automated. Secondly, there has to be a suitable negotiation mechanism helping provider and consumer on finding an agreement on Quality-of-Service and price. Thirdly, finding the optimal configuration requires adequate and efficient optimization techniques. The work at hand addresses these challenges through technical and economic contributions

Automated Bidding in Computing Service Markets. Strategies, Architectures, Protocols

This dissertation contributes to the research on Computational Mechanism Design by providing novel theoretical and software models - a novel bidding strategy called Q-Strategy, which automates bidding processes in imperfect information markets, a software framework for realizing agents and bidding strategies called BidGenerator and a communication protocol called MX/CS, for expressing and exchanging economic and technical information in a market-based scheduling system