I N D U S T R I A L
A G E N T S
We can
consider the creation of an industrial project in 8
different stages:
Definition
Laying out the set of requirements that the project must
satisfy.
Positioning
Specifying
the project’s relationship to other projects in the
enterprise, potential overlaps, synergies,
conflicts…
Specification
Definition of the functions that the project will support.
This includes defining what it will do, not how it does it,
taking into consideration the 2 first stages.
Design
Mapping
the functions of the specifications to implementation
strategies.
At this point we can consider 2 sub-projects:
•
Design
of the manufactured product.
•
Design
of the process that will make the manufactured object.
Implementation
Construction
of the project (if the project is a service rather than a
product, this stage might not exist).
Process
implementation:
Purchasing contracts, removal of old equipment, new
installations…
Product
implementation:
Construction of the product.
Commissioning
The
project is placed into use.
Process
Commissioning:
Factories produce products.
Product
Commissioning: Each
unit of the product is commissioned when a dealer sells it
to a customer.
Operation
Upkeep of the project in regular productive use: routine
operation, maintenance and repair, and incremental
updating. It is at this stage that the project satisfies
the needs identified during the requirement phase.
Process
operation:
Factories continue the production and introduce eventual
modifications.
Product
operation: Dealer
provides services to the customer if any problem arises
with the product.
Decommissioning
Removal
of the project from service.
Process
operation:
equipment and factories are reconfigured for a new project.
Product
operation:
Products are taken out of use and recycled.
According to the previous model, we can then use agents to
support different stages:
•
Agents
in Product Design.
•
Agents
in Planning and Scheduling.