Virtual enterprise: an agent-based approach for decision and control

Abstract

Virtual enterprises are now viewed as of the most promising strategy for future manufacturing enterprises. However, decision and control processes within this domain have not received deserved attention till now. Based on agent technology, this paper bought up an architecture for control and decision-making during the dynamic creation and operation of a virtual enteiprise. An approach for integrating different business units is presented. A prototype software simulating the design of a new product in a virtual enterprise is developed.