Dynamic manufacturing scheduling using both functional and resource related agents

Manufacturing scheduling is a difficult problem, particularly when it takes place in an open and dynamic environment. Agent-based technology has recently been used in attempts to resolve this problem. A bidding mechanism based on Contract Net protocol is often proposed as a key solution component. Our approach is to use both functional and physical resource related agents, and combine a bidding mechanism based on Contract Net protocol with a mediation mechanism based on Mediator architecture for realizing dynamic manufacturing scheduling and rescheduling. A machine-centered scheduling mechanism and related concepts and mechanisms are described, and a prototype implementation is presented.