A reference model for distributed decision making through a multi-agent approach

Abstract

Multi-agent modeling is widely used in collaborative networks for the ability to represent complexity derived from interrelationship. Nevertheless we noticed in the literature a lack of guidelines in formal modeling. In this paper we analyze a reference model to develop multi -agent models able to be applied to a variety of fields. The presented method brings together operations research techniques and UML notation. The reference model is validated in different application fields, in particular in this paper an application to a shoe manufacturing plant is presented. © 2008 International Federation for Information Processing.