Reactive scheduling using a multi-agent model: the SCEP framework

However, their use often leads to poorly unsatisfactory disappointing results. A new multi-agent model, called supervisor, customers, environment, producers (SCEP), is suggested in this paper.

This model, developed for all types of planning activities, introduces a dialogue between two communities of agents leading to a high level of co-operation. Its two main interests are the following: first it provides a more efficient control of the consequences generated by the local decisions than usual systems to each agent, then the adopted architecture and behaviour permit an easy co-operation between the different SCEP models, which can represent different production functions such as manufacturing, supply management, maintenance or different workshops.