Title: Coordination mechanism design in supply chains using multi-behaviour agents

Authors: Pascal Forget, Sophie D'Amours, Jean-Marc Frayret, Jonathan Gaudreault

Addresses: Department of Mathematics, Computer Sciences and Engineering, Universite du Quebec a Rimouski, 300 allees des Ursulines, Rimouski, Quebec G5L 3A1, Canada. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, FORAC Research Consortium, CIRRELT, Universite Laval, 1065 avenue de la medecine, Quebec, Quebec G1V 0A6, Canada. ' Department of Mathematics and Industrial Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal, 2500 chemin de Polytechnique, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1J4, Canada. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, FORAC Research Consortium, CIRRELT, Universite Laval, 1065 avenue de la medecine, Quebec, Quebec G1V 0A6, Canada

Abstract: In today|s industrial context, competitiveness is closely associated with supply chain performance. The ongoing development of integrated supply chains has increased the importance of supply chain management. This paper focuses on the design of coordination mechanisms that determine how partners interact to coordinate their production planning. We present a simulation tool to aid in the design of coordination mechanisms using multi-behaviour agents in an agent-based planning system where agents act as partners. The implementation of this solution is realised through the FORAC agent-based planning platform, which is dedicated to supply chain production planning and simulation for the lumber industry.

Keywords: coordination mechanisms; simulation; agent-based systems; production planning; supply chain management; integrated SCM; lumber industry; multi-behaviour agents; multi-agent systems; MAS; competitiveness; supply chain integration; partners; interaction; FORAC; forestry; Canada; electronic business; e-business; supply chain coordination.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEB.2010.034172

International Journal of Electronic Business, 2010 Vol.8 No.3, pp.281 - 297

Published online: 16 Jul 2010 *

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