Development in Agent Based Systems for Intelligent Manufacturing

Abstract

Revolutionary and latest technologies have changed the manufacturing sector. Emerging technologies have developed smart and intelligent manufacturing systems. Latest manufacturing systems have overcome the issues related to communication, integration, data sharing, coordination, and autonomous behavior. Similarly, these technologies also address the issue related to self-awareness, complex structures, upscaling, and heterogeneity. Internet of things, holonic technology and agent-based systems are employed in manufacturing industries to overcome different issues and production inefficiencies. With ever-changing needs and market environment, the manufacturing sector must keep up with the pace by using these modern technologies. This paper summarizes the role of agent-based systems in providing robust solutions for the deficiencies in manufacturing. Agent-based systems can be used in the whole value chain of the manufacturing unit ranging from processes, machine assembly, production line, logistics to supply chain. Agent-based systems integrate all these units to exchange information and to use various resources by making autonomous decisions. Agents are smart and intelligent and take decisions through reasoning and continuous learning. Agents based systems can be integrated with holonic technologies, AI and Internet of things to further enhance the manufacturing capabilities. Integration of agent-based systems with other technologies and applications are discussed in this review.