Integration of agent technology into manufacturing enterprise: A review and platform for industry 4.0

Agent paradigm is a technology recognized as potent tool for the 21^st century manufacturing system. Researches are on-going in the applications of agent technology to manufacturing enterprise, production process planning and scheduling, shop floor control, and to reconfigurable manufacturing system as an implementation case study. The article presents the results of a review of published articles on agents´ usage at manufacturing enterprise level for reconfigurable manufacturing system between year 2003 and August, 2014 to provide up to date pictures of the technological function of agents and multi agents within the reconfigurable conceptualized manufacturing circles. The paper is viewed from the angle of wide coverage, broad scope of multi-agent techniques and a focus on real world applications. The outcomes include trends of agents and multi-agents usage in manufacturing enterprise resource planning, supply chain managements and the gaps yet to be filled for consolidating future plans on Industry 4.0 in reconfigurable manufacturing system.