Multi-Agent Systems in Internet based Production Environments — an enabling Infrastructure for Mass Customization

Mass customization manufacturing requires a high level of reconfigurability and flexibility in production – especially in production planning and control –, effective information systems, as well as suitable production concepts. Multi-agent systems theoretically provide the required features, but a lack of informational integration and organizational incompatibilities lead to low applicability. Internet based production concepts provide the necessary interoperability and organizational alignment to support an overall application of multi-agent systems in mass customization. The intended decentralization of organizations in Internet based production concepts conform to the modular structure of multi-agent systems. A coordinated application leads to an enabling of mass customization.