Agent-based technology has been taken as an important approach for developing advanced manufacturing systems. Learning is one of the key techniques for implementing such systems. This paper proposes some learning issues in agent-based manufacturing systems for further discussion in the working group. As examples, the paper describes two implemented learning mechanisms and presents some experime...

The rapid diffusion of technology and manufacturing processes to less developed nations has been one of the most significant devel­ opments in the interaction between advanced and less developed countries in recent years. Industries that were almost exclusively concentrated in the most advanced nations less than three decades ago are now commonplace in many developing countries. Thus, while tec...

Japan is one of the most advanced countries in manufacturing technology, and lasers have played an important role in the advancement of manufacturing technology in a variety of industrial fields. The contribution of laser materials processing to Japanese industry is significant for both macroprocessing and microprocessing. The present paper describes the recent trend and topics of industrial ap...

In this general equilibrium framework, the transportation sector is modeled as a distinct sector with increasing returns. A more advanced technology has a higher fixed cost but a lower marginal cost of production. Even with both manufacturing firms and transportation firms engage in oligopolistic competition and choose technologies optimally, the model is tractable and results are derived analy...

In the past decade, electrochemical energy storage systems such as rechargeable batteries have been explored potential candidates for large-scale of intermittent power sources. Among these, redox flow stand out due to their low fabrication costs, high scalability, and long cycle life. Several battery pilot plants with MWh capacity constructed worldwide, although commercial profitability is curr...

A research study was conducted (1) to examine the practices employed by US manufacturers to achieve productivity goals and (2) to understand what level of intelligent maintenance technologies and strategies are being incorporated into these practices. This study found that the effectiveness and choice of maintenance strategy were strongly correlated to the size of the manufacturing enterprise; ...