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In the current economic crisis, also the manufacturing sector is asked to evolve towards more dynamic organizational structures within which, composing manufacturing processes, almost in real time, will become a need. This work aims at introducing flexibility and dynamisms to current manufacturing processes by separating its tasks from its final performers. With the proposed approach, the performers' replacement can be done almost seamlessly. Additionally, the approach shows how dynamic negotiation and contracting, either for a whole process or a single activity, can be smoother if the task specification is based on a standard service interface defined at the ecosystem level. At the end, a prototype implementation is briefly described.

Abstract:The work presented in this paper highlights how a real scheduling problem can be considered as a process avoiding the traditional operation research-based approach. Understanding the scheduling problem as a dynamic, uncertain and continuous process, in order to reduce the gap between reality and academic models, new conceptual elements emerge. The framework includes methodologies, concepts, architecture, and algorithms, which are based on the idea of a multiagent system in which planning-scheduling relationship is the core proposal. From the framework a software platform has been developed and tested in real industry.

Abstract. In the operation management environment, the process of production scheduling is responsible for detailing operating activities by indicating a set of methods and tools that are conditioned, among other restrictions, by the tactical decisions that are made in the production planning environment. Although, theoretically, a bi-directional flow of information should exist among both environments of decisions that permit those who are involved to coordinate both levels in practice, such does not occur because of a structured decision-making tool gap. This document proposes an architecture that is based on agents software designed with INGENIAS methodology and proposed from an analysis of requirements that is based on CIMOSA. Once it is implemented, a prototype that employs JADE has been carried out to test and verify its suitable operation.

EditorialThis is the first number of the International Journal of Production Management and Engineering (IJPME). Why this new journal?From the Research Centre on Production Management and Engineering at the Universitat Politècnica de València, it is understood that the numerous results being obtained in the research and transfer projects, including the generation of new knowledge and practical applications in companies and industrial sectors, are not reaching all the potentially interested people. Although there are many journals that deal with enterprise issues, we want to address the resolution or solution proposal of the real problems that companies are facing. We also wish that the IJPME becomes an agile channel between researchers and readers.Problems, cases and proposals will be addressed from an engineering point of view. Industrial engineering, system engineering, process engineering, etc., are visions that the IJPME will enhance in the future.The IJPME's objectives promote the progress and understanding of phenomena related with all aspects of production engineering and management. In particular, the IJPME covers proposals of strategic, tactic or operative challenges in industrial or service organizations, such as individual enterprises, and supply or distribution network approaches. Moreover, cross-disciplinary working areas, such a business process modelling, operation research, performance measurement systems, enterprise engineering or information technology, etc., as decision support systems are welcome.-Strategy and Design: Physical systems design, supply or distribution network design, business models & modelling, business process, behavioural issues, collaborative networks, risk management, software services and enterprise architectures, KPIs, inventory policies, etc., based on new models, methodologies, techniques, tools, etc.-Operations and Control: Demand forecasting, production planning & scheduling, order promising, project management, multi-level lot sizing, routing, etc., using exact heuristic or meta-heuristic methods based on fuzzy logic, mathematical models, intelligence software agents, methodologies, algorithms, etc.The journal is arranged in two sections: the Editorial and Papers section. The Editorial section publishes a visionary short papers (2-3 pages max.) in order to guide future journal contributors by identifying