Planning under Uncertainty: A Qualitative Approach

Hierarchical planners create descriptions of abstract states and divide their planning task into subproblems for refining these states. In spite of their success in reducing the search space, they classically assume the existence of certain and complete information. In real world planning instances, one has to select among alternative strategies at each abstract state, observing both incomplete knowledge of the attributes that each strategy may pose, and partial ordering of these attributes. In addition, reasoning is defeasible: further information may cause another alternative to be more preferable than what seems optimal at the moment. This work presents a planning framework based on qualitative value decision making formalisms. Sketching the appropriate strategy operator schemata for hierarchical planning, it focuses on aspects of uncertainty handling by combining abilities of constraint programming languages with the introduced concepts of credulous and skeptical con..

A framework for group decision support systems: Combining AI tools and OR techniques

Work on the implementation of Group Decision Support Systems has to exploit recent advancements of computer science. Existing frameworks for single-user Decision Support Systems, based on well-established Operations Research methods such as Multicriteria Decision Making techniques, have to be integrated with successful technical developments in electronic communication and computing. Starting from the presentation of the related Operations Research background, this paper proceeds by discussing challenges coming from the areas of Computer-Supported Cooperative Work and Information Systems on the World Wide Web platform. Based on this discussion, a framework for an "open", computer-mediated Group Decision Support System is proposed. The term "open" is related to a platform-independent system, which can efficiently support alternative types of goals and control protocols between its users

Production planning and control in textile industry: A case study

This paper presents an interactive model based system for the management of production in textile production systems focusing on the Master Production Scheduling problem. Because of the special characteristics of the industry, that is mainly the multi-phase process with multiple units per phase, different planning horizons and different production requirements for each phase, the scheduling of these systems becomes quite complex. Apart from a comprehensive presentation of the set of the modules the system is composed of, together with their interrelationships, the above characteristics are analyzed, and their impact on the production control system is explained. The system is also related to two well-known production control systems, namely MRP-II and Optimised Production Technology. The system's attributes are presented with the aid of data structure diagrams, while the complete algorithm concerning the Master Production Scheduling module, in a pseudo-code form, and the corresponding part of the database are illustrated in the Appendix. Keywords: Master Production Scheduling, Decision Support Systems, Production Planning, MRP-II, Textile Industry. 1. Introduction Textile production systems form an interesting area for the study of scheduling problems. The industry has been developed following both vertical integration, particularly among spinning and weaving firms, and horizontal integration, promoted by the idea that a full line of textile products is necessary for effective marketing [1]. Such production systems comprise various page

Argumentation Schemes in Technology-Mediated Open Innovation Product-Service Models: An Activity Systems Perspective

The paper uses activity theory for understanding and managing the complexity involved in the transition of a product-service organization from closed to the technology-mediated open mode of innovation. In particular, activity theory is used to facilitate the alignment of the open innovation model adopted with the organization’s dominant argumentation scheme by developing nested representations of the innovation process in the traditional closed mode, as well as in the user-led innovation and user co-creation modes, associated with product- and service-provision operations, respectively. For all cases, we concentrate on the argumentation-in-innovation activity and its context. We arrive at insights about the process of Activity Based Analysis (ABA) in this endeavor and the issues raised through action research in a product-service firm in the food and beverages sector, aiming at adopting an open innovation strategy implemented in the innovation community mode

Argumentation Schemes in Technology-Mediated Open Innovation Product-Service Models: An Activity Systems Perspective

The paper uses activity theory for understanding and managing the complexity involved in the transition of a product-service organization from closed to the technology-mediated open mode of innovation. In particular, activity theory is used to facilitate the alignment of the open innovation model adopted with the organization’s dominant argumentation scheme by developing nested representations of the innovation process in the traditional closed mode, as well as in the user-led innovation and user co-creation modes, associated with product- and service-provision operations, respectively. For all cases, we concentrate on the argumentation-in-innovation activity and its context. We arrive at insights about the process of Activity Based Analysis (ABA) in this endeavor and the issues raised through action research in a product-service firm in the food and beverages sector, aiming at adopting an open innovation strategy implemented in the innovation community mode

An Argumentation Based Framework for Defeasible and Qualitative Reasoning

. Multiagent settings are usually characterized by numerous goals, diverse opinions and conflicts of interest. In order to reach understanding and achieve cooperation, agents need a means of expressing their individual arguments which may contain explanations, justifications or any other kind of information. Furthermore, existing information may usually be incomplete, inconsistent and expressed in qualitative terms. In this paper, we present an argumentation-based framework that supports defeasible and qualitative reasoning in such environments. An interval-based qualitative value logic is applied, together with an inference mechanism in order to refine agents' knowledge, check consistency and, eventually, conclude the issue. The model is currently under development in Java, the aim being to deploy it on the World Wide Web. 1 Introduction The argumentation component of the interaction between agents seems to attract the interest of researchers from various well-established areas, such..