Starting from the classical centralized approach that we sketch rst, we describe some of the main concepts that are common to most models of multi-agent systems and propose some main requirements that should be respected when designing such systems. Then we give some examples where such concepts have already been used in test implementations, while trying to cover a wide spectrum of concepts us...

The increasing complexity of manufacturing systems in highly competitive environments motivates the need for refinement of the design of manufacturing systems. The application of systems engineering is still undeveloped in some industries, but the potential benefits are substantial. However, there exists a chasm between the theory and practice of systems engineering applied to the design of man...

Global competition and rapidly changing customer requirements are demanding increasing changes in manufacturing environments. Enterprises are required to constantly redesign their products and continuously reconfigure their manufacturing systems. Traditional approaches to manufacturing systems do not fully satisfy this new situation. Many authors have proposed that artificial intelligence will ...

The manufacture of an information product (IP) is akin to the manufacture of a physical product. Current approaches to model such information manufacturing systems (IMS), lack the ability to systematically represent the dynamic changes involved in manufacturing (or creating) an IP. They also have limitations to consistently include aspects of process and information management at an organisatio...

1. fntroduction We consider poliing systems where service is given in batches of unlimited size. When the server visits a queue, all customers present are served in a single batch. We call tlis gated batch seruice. The batch service time is independent of the size of the batch. Some examples of such systems are discussed in the literature below. Examples more related to manufacturing are ovens,...

One of the most revolutionary concepts of Machining Processes to emerge in the last two decades has been the concept of Flexible Manufacturing System (F.M.S.). It is a concept of machining where a set of machine tools can be used to perform a wide range of machining operations to produce a variety of products. This dynamic nature of the machine tools can be achieved by developing a beautiful am...

The origins of MES systems go back to early ‘80s, when MES concept was still connected to Data Collection System. Many companies, in fact, used a data collection system belonging to CIM Model 1 for an integrated manufacturing model. As years go by and with the change of industries’ needs due to an increasing globalization and more specific customer demands, the necessity to create a new model (...

Manufacturing companies in the 21st Century will face unpredictable, high-frequency market changes driven by global competition. To stay competitive, these companies must possess new types of manufacturing systems that are cost-effective and very responsive to all these market changes. Reconfigurability, an engineering technology that deals with cost-effective, quick reaction to market changes,...