Optimization of the On-site Transportation Logistics of a Chemical Factory using Multi-Agent Systems

This paper presents a possible way to optimize the onsite transportation logistics of engineering works and chemical factories, which have evolved without steering or deliberate planning over time, to save costs and energy. The general methodology employed is the problem solving cycle of systems engineering. Hereby object-oriented process-based simulation, agent technology and multi-agent systems were used as tools for system analysis. In an underlying application example of optimizing the on-site transportation logistics a chemical factory a potential to save costs of transportation of more than 20 % could be realized, without having to spend much money for investment in capital equipment. With this project a contribution has been made to demonstrate the suitability and characteristics of agent technology and multi-agent systems to optimize industrial logistic processes and transportation networks. The greatest advantages of multi-agent systems may be seen in their inherent adaptivity, which gives them a great advantage compared to the conventional monolithic systems when there is a fast evolving business environment.