Title: Integrated modelling of agile enterprise networks

Authors: Dmitry Ivanov, Joachim Kaeschel, Boris Sokolov

Addresses: Department of Economics and Business Administration, Chemnitz University of Technology, Chair of Production and Industrial Management, D-09107 Chemnitz, Germany. ' Department of Economics and Business Administration, Chemnitz University of Technology, Chair of Production and Industrial Management, D-09107 Chemnitz, Germany. ' Russian Academy of Science, Saint Petersburg Institute of Informatics and Automation, 39, 14 Linia, VO, St. Petersburg 199178, Russia

Abstract: Agile enterprise networks, also called as Collaborative Networks (CN) emerge in a decentralised and dynamical way instead of former static hierarchical cooperation and value chains. The CN modelling and optimisation issues differ from those in traditional supply chains and require combined application of various modelling techniques. The paper aims to elaborate an approach Decentralised Integrated Modelling Approach (DIMA) of the CN integrated modelling with the use of elements drawn from different approaches such as control theory, systems theory, operations research and distributed artificial intelligence. The basics of the multi-disciplinary treatment of the CN are developed to contribute to the establishing foundations of the agile networks theory as called for by increasing number of researchers. Our research elaborates a special multi-disciplinary technique for CN modelling to provide flexible application of various modelling frameworks (analytical, simulation and heuristics) as well as their combinations (multiple-model complexes). The results show that the multi-disciplinary treatment of agile production networks allows a comprehensive and realistic planning and control problems formulation and solution. These techniques should allow solving various CN management problems with available data, interlinking with the other relevant problems, etc. as well avoiding the isolated problems solution and incoherent and non-consistent model fragments.

Keywords: collaborative manufacturing; agile enterprise networks; complexity; uncertainty; integrated modelling; planning; control; system analysis; collaborative networks; agile manufacturing; agility; agile systems.

DOI: 10.1504/IJASM.2007.015680

International Journal of Agile Systems and Management, 2007 Vol.2 No.1, pp.23 - 49

Published online: 07 Nov 2007 *

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