Application of Multi-agent system for automating the whole order fulfilment process. Perhaps the most general way in which the term agent is used is to denote a hardware or (more usually) software based computer system that enjoys the following properties: .
Autonomy: agents operate without the direct intervention of humans or others, and have some kind of control over their actions and internal state . .
Social Ability: agents interact with other agents (and possibly humans) via some kind of agent communication language .
Reactivity: agents perceive their environment, (which may be the physical world, a user via a graphical user interface, a collection of other agents, the Internet, or perhaps all of these combined), and respond in a timely fashion to changes that occur in it; .
Pro activeness: agents do not simply act in response to their environment, they are able .
to exhibit goal directed behaviour by taking the initiative. .
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MAS can be defined as a loosely coupled network of problem solvers that work together to solve the problems that are beyond the individual capabilities or knowledge of each problem solver. The significant advantages inherent in the MAS are their ability to solve problem that may be too large for a centralised single agent, provide enhanced speed and reliability and tolerate uncertain data and knowledge.
The Present methods of information sharing like ERP can provide enterprise level visibility into physical movement and accounting of goods. But companies have not focused sufficiently on the information flow between and across partners in the value chain. .
MAS can provide the platform in which the whole of entities of the supply chain can be integrated and work in co-ordinated manner. .
It is altogether a new approach in order to improve on the supply chain of today. However the scope of this work will be limiting to academic interest and industrial implementation of it will involve lot of considerations and evaluation of it.
