I2QFD: A blackboard-based multiagent system for supporting concurrent engineering projects

Abstract

Although Concurrent Engineering has been accredited as a superior approach to product development, its intrinsic complexity in coordinating the multidisciplinary project team is further augmented when team members are remotely distributed. Assuming the teamwork is supported by an Intranet, this paper proposes the framework of a blackboard-based multiagent system, called I 2 QFD, to facilitate the communication and coordination of the design projects. Configured within a hierarchical structure, this system is defined with IDEF0 and high-level Petri nets to depict the operations of Intelligent Agencies and their affiliated agents. Based on temporal logic, the operation of the project team with I 2 QFD is simulated to manifest the dynamics of the design process as well as to generate the project's schedule that ensures the intended concurrency.