Complexity management of production planning and control systems by using distributed multi-agent systems

Changes on the product ana manufacturing side resulting from an intensifying global competition have put pressure on companies to alter their strategy, organization, and production planning. Especially the ability to quickly adapt the production has become a crucial factor which can provide great competitive advantage. Current research work of the Institute for Manufacturing Automation and Production Systems (FAPS) at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg focuses on production planning and control systems which are decentralized and self-organized and therefore more flexible. In this context, concepts have been developed for realizing a hierarchical production planning and control system based on multi agent technology. © Carl Hanser Verlag, München.