Ontology-Driven Multi-Agent Engine for Real Time Adaptive Scheduling

Abstract

The growing demand for improving business efficiency requests the development of generic resource management systems applicable for solving a wide range of complex problems with minimum cost and time. However, the classical combinatorial or heuristic methods and tools do not provide adequate solutions for solving complex problems of resource management in real time. That is why we consider multi-agent technology as the core part of such solutions - which helps find the balance of many interests and adapt it in a flexible way to unpredictable events, such as a new order, an unavailable resource, etc. In this paper we introduce the use of ontology for scheduling, which provides the opportunity to create ontological model of the enterprise, develop generic multi-agent scheduler and customize matching requirements for each operation in business or technological processes, for example, for applications in manufacturing, project management, supply chains, etc. Semantic Wikipedia on the top of ontology editor will be discussed to support knowledge base of enterprise for resource management. The example of applications for supply chain of insurance company is presented.