Monitoring and controlling the complex product assembly executive process via mobile agents and RFID tags

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to solve the asynchrony problem between the logistics stream and the information stream in the complex product assembly executive process. Design/methodology/approach - States of assembly and logistics are described by transitions, and implemented via logistics agents and assembly agents. Events in the assembly executive process are described by places, and mapped to radio frequency identification (RFID) tags' states. An agentbased complex product assembly framework is proposed. Mobile agents are used to encapsulate task and data, and RFID tags' states are able to trigger dispatching of assembly agents and executing of assembly tasks. Assisted by mobile agents' retraction mechanism, on-site data are carried back when assembly tasks are finished. Findings - An assembly executive process Petri net and a mobile agent-based complex product assembly framework are proposed. Originality/value - Dynamic matching mechanism between assembly tasks and materials is achieved, and controlling and monitoring methods of complex product assembly executive process are enhanced.