Adopting Agent Technology in Information Sharing and Networking

摘要

The thesis describes the adoption of agent technology for information sharing and networking. Companies are engaged in networking with changing partners and information sharing among enterprises with heterogeneous system environments is increasing all the time. Since the types and sizes of the networked companies vary, flexible, effective information sharing systems are needed. Networking systems have to conform to the requirements of different information technology structures and information representation formats. Small and medium-sized enterprises in particular need flexible, effective networking solutions. The thesis reviews the use of agent-based applications in industrial environments, and especially in supply chain management. Agents are autonomous, problem-solving computational entities capable of effective operation in dynamic and open environments, and therefore they are able to provide a suitable means of complex process management among networked companies. The thesis describes the agent-based system called SteelNet, for networking in supply chain management, and its design and implementation in a case business network.