Architecture based on mobile agent and PEIDs technologies to improve innovation in PLM

Abstract

The product life cycle management (PLM) system focuses on tracking and managing the information of whole product life cycle, with possible feedback of information to product life cycle phases. It provides opportunities to reduce the inefficiency of life cycle operations and gain in term of competitiveness. Our research consist of the effective management of product life cycle activities by using product data/information/knowledge which are accumulated in the closed-loops of product life cycle with the support of product embedded information devices (PIEDs), multi-agent systems (MAS) and product data & knowledge management (PDKM). In this article we propose an approach based on three organizations: physical product, product Agent, and PLM system. The product Agent can gather product life cycle information from each product with a mobile device such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a fixed reader with built-in antenna. He sends information gathered at each site (e.g retail sites, distribution sites ... ) to a PLM system. From the PLM's point of view, the product is allowing itself to manage information resources relevant layers to itself in a distributed manner is a logical and practical approach.