Modeling an Agent Mediated Supply Chain Management System Using MAS-Common KADS Methodology

Supply chain is a worldwide network of suppliers, factories, warehouses, distribution centers, and retailers through which raw materials are acquired, transformed, and delivered to customers. In recent years, new software architecture for managing the supply chain at the tactical and operational levels has emerged. It views the supply chain as composed of a set of intelligent software agents, each responsible for one or more activities in the supply chain and each interacting with other agents in the planning and execution of their responsibilities. This paper uses the MAS–CommonKADS methodology in modeling a supply chain management system. We develop each model included in this methodology, illustrating the development of both the coordination and expertise models. We incorporate UML activity diagrams in the task model and use sequence diagrams to model communication between agents. The methodology leads in defining five different classes of agents.