Interoperating standards in multiagent agile manufacturing scheduling systems

Abstract

This paper presents an implemented framework that deals with the high-level of heterogeneity that a multi-agent scheduling system should tackle when the legacy systems and component-based approaches are considered. Perspectives from different natures of information sources to the scheduling system are taken into account, namely the information that comes from the supply chain and from the internal/heterogeneous planning and shop floor supervision systems. The utilisation of standards for inter-tools communication, information exchange and information modelling ascends in significance within this context. They are seen as a base for an agile and lean reaction of the enterprise both in its normal operation and in the presence of unexpected events. The framework and the system prototype developed called HOLOS comprise what can be called an interoperation among standards, and they are discussed and illustrated with some examples.