1 BACKGROUND The manufacturing sector, both globally as well as locally, has been
undergoing some major changes in the past decade. It has become very competitive due to …

This paper introduces the concept of Distributed Artificial Intelligence (DAI). It seeks to
demonstrate the applicability of these techniques to the development of Intelligent …

The traditional production paradigm of large batch production does not offer flexibility toward
satisfying the requirements of individual customers. A new generation of smart factories is …

Shrinking lot sizes and growing product variability demand frequent changes in
manufacturing systems. Common manufacturing systems, however, are built for large …

Highly flexible and adaptive manufacturing systems are urgently required to meet the
challenges of the upcoming demand of the industry. However, many traditional industries …

Intelligent Manufacturing is a new disciplinary field which applies computer science, artificial
intelligence, mechanical engineering and systems science to industrial manufacturing …

The present dynamic manufacturing environment has been characterized by a greater
variety of products, shorter life-cycles of products and rapid introduction of new technologies …

Agent technology derived from Distributed Artificial Intelligence is increasingly being
considered for next generation computer-integrated manufacturing systems, to satisfy new …

In the current global economy, where rapid changes and constantly shifting market demands
define the competitive landscape, adaptive manufacturing systems become essential for …

The concept of an" intelligent manufacturing system"(IMS) is a very broad one that has come
to playa major role in manufacturing research in recent years. It is a concept that defies …