Title: Agent-based decision support for maintenance service provider

Authors: Per Hilletofth, Sandor Ujvari, Lauri Lattila, Olli-Pekka Hilmola

Addresses: Logistics Research Centre, School of Technology and Society, University of Skovde, P.O. Box 408, SE-541 28 Skovde, Sweden. ' Logistics Research Centre, School of Technology and Society, University of Skovde, P.O. Box 408, SE-541 28 Skovde, Sweden. ' Kouvola Unit, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Prikaatintie 9, FIN-45100 Kouvola, Finland. ' Kouvola Unit, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Prikaatintie 9, FIN-45100 Kouvola, Finland

Abstract: Operations performed by a maintenance service provider (MSP) can include the entire maintenance function or select activities; these need to be well-balanced in terms of utilisation rate of own resources, maintenance cost incurred and the uptime of the customers| production systems. MSPs face challenges due to the task of planning several non-associated plants and with a frequent lack of reliable information. In this research work, an agent-based decision support system of service-related maintenance has been developed. Research shows that this approach can improve the understanding of the problem domain and also generate a basis for decision-making and structural changes.

Keywords: service operations; agent-based systems; multi-agent systems; MAS; modelling; simulation; ABMS; decision support systems; DSS; maintenance service providers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSCI.2010.032223

International Journal of Services Sciences, 2010 Vol.3 No.2/3, pp.194 - 215

Published online: 17 Mar 2010 *

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