Thibaud Monteiro

Multi-agents architecture for supply chain management

The purpose of this paper is to propose a new approach for the supply chain management. This approach is based on the virtual enterprise paradigm and the usage of multi‐agent concept. The base component of our approach is a virtual enterprise node (VEN). The supply chain is viewed as a set of tiers (corresponding to the levels of production), in which each partner of the supply chain (VEN) is in relation with several customers and suppliers. Each VEN belongs to one tier. The main customer gives global objectives (quantity, cost and delay) to the supply chain. The mediator agent (MA) is in charge to manage the supply chain in order to respect those objectives as global level. Those objectives are taking over to negotiator agent at the tier level (NAT). This architecture allows supply chains management which is completely transparent seen from simple enterprise of the supply chain. The use of multi‐agent system allows physical distribution of the decisional system. Moreover, the hierarchical organizational structure with a decentralized control guarantees, at the same time, the autonomy of each entity and the whole flexibility.

Multi-criteria negotiation for a distributed control of a client/provider relationship

The improvement of manufacturing productivity is now increasingly a result of increased cooperation between companies. Research on such industrial organisation referred to as “industrial architecture” aims to develop specific aids for decision making and control. The objective of our work is to propose a formalisation of this cooperation by intending to coordinate the means used for the production of consumer goods. This formalisation allows us to establish an assistance tool for the distributed control of material and information flow between firms. Multi-criteria analysis is used to find the best balance between delay and cost in negotiating sales orders.