Abstract
Traditional Production Planning and Control systems do not successfully deal with new organisational forms of manufacturing, like production "islands", product oriented or customer driven production. These current trends lead in practice to a strong decentralisation of production management tasks and to an "object oriented structuring" of the manufacturing process. Planning and operation in this global environment requires new skills and new approaches, namely, the co-ordination of global networks of manufacturing units and of large complex supply chains. In this paper, we present a decentralised information system designed to address the tasks of production planning that result from sales orders, originated in customers located anywhere in the world, and accomplished through a distributed manufacturing network. The system addresses the requirements of a make-to-order environment and is hopefully able to produce realistic satisfactory delivery dates. The information infrastructure designed and implemented using distributed object-oriented technology with a component based architecture has proven to be efficient and powerful, satisfying all the major tight requirements of information systems in an environment of distributed manufacturing.

Abstract
In this paper we present an information system architecture, addressing the needs of an advanced order planning system for industrial networked enterprises environments. Firstly, the general objectives of the system are described focusing on the relevant business processes identified. Then, the related general functionality (business solutions) of a distributed system supporting those processes is described, focusing on the particular case of order change acceptance. An agent based architecture supporting this business solution is outlined, emphasizing the agent framework and the legacy systems integration.

Abstract
Current Production Planning and Control Systems do not in general satisfy the needs and challenges of production networks, as they lack the capacity to appropriately support a co-ordinated and effective communication between heterogeneous manufacturing sites. This paper presents a new approach, based on the multi-agent systems paradigm, for a planning (order negotiation) system suitable for distributed and virtual enterprises. The infrastructure and planning methodology (based on negotiations) proposed in this paper, have been designed for planning orders, involving a large number of scattered manufacturing plants, used in different production stages, connected through a complex logistic subsystem. A Decision Support System has been designed around an architecture based on several intelligent agents communicating through the Knowledge Query Manipulation Language (KQML). Copyright (C) 1999 IFAC.

Abstract
This paper describes an attempt to design an "Order Promise" system to support decision making in the so-called Virtual Enterprises. In this framework, planning and control activities are very complex, and have to take place both within the enterprise and across the whole supply network in order to achieve high levels of performance. This work is part of a broader project with a particular focus on the microelectronics industry which is a good example of Virtual Enterprise, and where a quick response to the customers needs and to unpredictable changes in production conditions is considered a major factor for success. Copyright (C) 1998 IFAC.

Abstract
Current market dynamics require European SME's to focus on complex products manufacturing and to build non-hierarchical business networks, to assure competitiveness and sustainability. Such trend demands appropriate methods for network formation and management, including reference collaboration processes and supporting ICT tools. This paper presents a framework to support SME's in the creation and management of non-hierarchical networks designed and developed within the European RTD project Net-Challenge. This framework includes methodologies, processes and ICT decision support tools aiming at the efficient creation and management of these networks assuring quick response times and competitive and differentiated offerings.

Abstract
There is currently an increasing interest in exploring the opportunities for competitive advantage that can be gained by reinforcing core competencies and innovative capabilities through networks of industrial and business partners. This paper firstly identifies some of the gaps that exist within current information systems that claim to support eBusiness and eWork in networked enterprises and describes some of the general requirements of distributed and decentralised information systems for companies operating in networks. It goes on to cover some principles for the design of a distributed IS providing an advanced infrastructure to support general co-operation, particular methodologies for co-operative and collaborative planning and guidelines for network set-up and support. The present work is one of the areas currently being delivered as part of the Europe-an IST consortium called Co-OPERATE. A distributed and decentralised information system, based on an architecture of agents and extensively using the internet, is being designed and implemented as a means to provide new and more powerful decision support tools for networked enterprises.