Benchmarking and robust multi-agent-based production planning and control

Abstract Multi-agent systems (MAS) offer new perspectives compared to conventional, centrally organised architectures in the scope of production planning and control. They are expected to be more flexible and robust while dealing with a turbulent production environment and disturbances. In this paper, an MAS is developed and compared to an Operations Research Job-Shop algorithm using a simulation-based benchmarking scenario. Environmental constraints for a successful application of MAS are identified and classified. Furthermore, the topic of MAS robustness is addressed by applying database technologies on the basis of transactions.

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