Jean-Marc Frayret

A strategic framework for networked manufacturing

Abstract This paper introduces a strategic framework for designing and operating agile manufacturing networks, enabling to collaboratively plan, control and manage day-to-day contingencies in a dynamic environment. It is based on a distributed collaborative vision of manufacturing systems. We first introduce a network-oriented organizational strategy according to which a manufacturing business dynamically organizes its operations through the configuration and activation of a distributed network of interdependent responsible manufacturing centers. Then, we present a collaborative relationships strategy as a contractual approach to implement operational networks. Finally, we introduce an operational strategy, showing how this networked collaborative approach can be used to manage day-to-day activities and contingencies in a close-to-reality manner. The concepts underlying the strategic framework are illustrated using a simplified case inspired by our manufacturing partner, a world-class motorcoach manufacturer.

A network approach to operate agile manufacturing systems

Abstract This paper presents and illustrates a strategic framework for designing and operating agile networked manufacturing systems. This framework allows to collaboratively plan, control and manage day-to-day operations and contingencies in a dynamic environment. The first section summarizes the NetMan organizational and collaboration strategy. It consists of a dynamic business method to organize and operate manufacturing activities through the configuration, activation and operation of a distributed network of inter-dependent and responsible manufacturing centers. Next, the concepts underlying this strategic framework as well as the technical implications of such an approach, are illustrated, using a detailed case study inspired by a motorcoach industrial partner.

Coordination and control in distributed and agent-based manufacturing systems

This paper addresses two fundamental issues inherent to every manufacturing system. These issues concern the coordination and control of manufacturing activities. In doing so, many aspects are reviewed and analysed. First, the main distributed manufacturing paradigms are briefly introduced. Next, the various forms of interdependence that commonly constrain manufacturing activities are reviewed, as well as the coordination mechanisms used to manage them. Then, after analysing different approaches developed to address coordination and control of manufacturing activities in distributed and agent-based manufacturing systems, this paper highlights the limits of the existing classification schemes for coordination mechanisms and provides a new scheme that extends beyond those previously reviewed in order to take into account recent advances. The studied distributed manufacturing paradigms are finally compared in terms of coordination and control.

Distributed search for supply chain coordination

This paper studies the case of a supply chain made up of autonomous facilities (represented by software agents). They need to coordinate their manufacturing operations in order to optimize customer satisfaction. Most of the coordination mechanisms used in practice can be described as heuristics. We show how they can be generalized to consider the entire coordination space, which can be represented as a tree. This reformulation of the coordination problem as a tree calls for its optimization using a distributed tree search algorithm (e.g. SyncBB). This allows for the exploration of alternative solutions by the agents while maintaining current business relationships, responsibilities and local decision-making algorithms. SyncBB provided great improvements in solution quality in comparison with current practice. The main contribution of this paper is MacDS, a novel method which permits agents to systematically search the solution space (thus look for the optimal solution) but aims at producing good solutions in a short period of time. It uses the concept of discrepancy so that agents collectively prioritize the parts of the tree to search first. Moreover, MacDS allows agents to work concurrently so as to speed up the search process. Use of this mechanism has improved the quality of solutions and computation time for both real industrial problems and generated problems.

Multi-commodity supply network planning in the forest supply chain

We consider in this paper a two echelon timber procurement system in which the first echelon consists of multiple harvesting blocks and the second echelon consists of multiple mills (e.g., sawmills), both distributed geographically. Demand is put forward by mills in the form of volumes of logs of specific length and species. Due to the impact of log handling and sorting on cut-to-length harvester and forwarder productivity [Gingras, J.-F., Favreau, J., 2002. Incidence du triage sur la productivite des systemes par bois tronconnes. Avantage 3], the harvesting cost per unit volume increases as the number of product variety harvested per block increases. The overall product allocation problem is a large scale mixed integer programming problem with the objective of minimizing combined harvesting and aggregated transportation costs, under demand satisfaction constraints. A heuristic is first introduced then, an algorithm based on the branch-and-price approach is proposed for larger scale problems. Experimentations compare solutions found with the heuristic with the corresponding optimal solutions obtained with both Cplex (using the branch-and-bound approach) and the branch-and-price approach. Results demonstrate the good performance level of the heuristic approach for small scale problems, and of the branch-and-price approach for large scale problems.

A commitment-oriented framework for networked manufacturing co-ordination

In the rapidly changing world of market place evolution and pressures, many authors have studied new organizational forms. Within these new trends, this paper deals particularly with network organizations. An approach is thus proposed to integrate the overall business organization and to co-ordinate the business processes involved in achieving the overall organization goals. In this study, integration is concerned with the implementation of collaborative information structures, enabling efficient operation management and control among heterogeneous business entities. Thus, based on the contract theory from economic science, philosophical work done on conventions and the multiagent systems paradigm, a commitment-oriented co-ordination framework for business integration is proposed. These concepts present a new comprehensive formalization of business collaboration within networked manufacturing, insofar as they concern the modelling of many kinds of business interactions, including collaborative contingencies management and collaboration performance measurement. In order to illustrate this approach, a multiagent prototype using the commitment-oriented approach is finally presented.

A multi-agent-based approach for personnel scheduling in assembly centers

This paper presents a multi-agent-based approach for personnel scheduling problems in the context of a paced multi-product assembly center. Our purpose is to elaborate daily assignment of employees to workstations in order to minimize simultaneously the operational costs and personnel dissatisfactions. The proposed approach considers the individual competencies, mobility and preferences of each employee, as well as the personnel and competency requirements associated with each assembly activity given both the current master assembly schedule and the line balancing for each product. To benchmark the performance of the multi-agent approach, we use optimal solutions obtained through a linear programming model resolution using a commercial solver. Experimental results show that our multi-agent approach can produce high-quality and efficient solutions in a short computational time.

Study of the performance of multi-behaviour agents for supply chain planning

In todays industrial context, competitiveness is closely associated to supply chain performance. Coordination between business units is essential to increase this performance, in order to produce and deliver products on time to customers, at a competitive price. While planning systems usually follow a single straightforward production planning process, this paper proposes that partners adapt together their local planning process (i.e. planning behaviours) to the different situations met in the supply chain environment. Because each partner can choose different behaviour and all behaviours will have an impact on the overall performance, it is difficult to know which is preferable for each partner to increase their performance. Using agent-based technology, simulation experiments have been undertaken to verify if multi-behaviour planning agents who can change planning behaviours to adapt to their environment can increase supply chain performance. These agents have been implemented in an agent-based planning platform, using a case study illustrating a lumber supply chain. The performance analysis shows that advanced planning systems can take advantage of using multiple planning processes, because of the dynamic context of supply chains.

Review: A survey of models and algorithms for emergency response logistics in electric distribution systems. Part II: Contingency planning level

This is the second part of a two-part survey of optimization models and solution algorithms for emergency response planning in electric distribution systems. The first part of the survey addresses reliability planning problems with fault considerations related to electric distribution operations. The aim of this second part is to provide a comprehensive survey of optimization models and solution methodologies for contingency planning problems related to electric distribution operations. These problems include the restoration of service, the sequencing of switching operations, the routing of repair vehicles, the scheduling of repair crews, and the assignment of crews to repair sites.

Agent-based simulation and analysis of demand-driven production strategies in the timber industry

This paper addresses the generic problem of production planning in a divergent timber production environment. It aims at analysing the performance of various demand-driven production strategies of a timber production system. This analysis is performed using a simulation platform built on an agent-based advanced planning system. Nine production strategies configurations are evaluated under six scenarios in order to carry out a complete mixed level design of 54 simulation runs. Each of these configurations is a combination of a decoupling point position and a level of capacity that is committed to contracts with customers. Accordingly, the six scenarios are designed as a combination of supply type (i.e. log diameter distribution) and timber market prices. Production processes and co-production yields are based on a real manufacturing system from eastern Canada. Performance is evaluated from the logistic and economic points of view. Results demonstrate that demand-driven planning approaches that propagate demand information upstream the supply chain have the potential to improve planned customer service and reduce planned inventories. Results also show that timber companies need to receive a premium from their customers in order to compensate from the loss of potential value resulting from a more constrained planning environment.