Abstract
Manufacturing systems are a stochastic, dynamic environment, with new jobs arriving continuously to the system, certain resources becoming unavailable and additional resources introduced. In order to support this particular environment in distributed manufacturing it is necessary to introduce new mechanisms to implement dynamic, distributed scheduling, specially to face disturbances. This paper presents an overview of the manufacturing scheduling problem and some techniques available to handle it. To solve the problem of stochastic, dynamic reaction to disturbances an adaptive control approach is described, based in the holonic manufacturing paradigm and the autonomy degree concept, which each operational holon uses to allow the balance between competition and cooperation.

Abstract
The paper introduces a concept for the combination of mechatronic unit and multi-agent system approaches. It highlights how combining both approaches to a new kind of integrated system architecture may enforce the dissemination and reusability of methods and automatisms developed for one specific system architecture to other similar ones. Additionally it will show how this integrated architecture leads to a better exchange of Automation architectures in general. Thus, all systems compliant with the described architecture may benefit from methods and automatism applicable for a broad range of systems. The suitability of this integration approach is verified by using the example of a washing machine production line.

Abstract
Multi-agent system (MAS) is being pointed out as a suitable technology to develop systems that demand flexibility, robustness and re-configurability. Consequently, a significant effort has been noticed to apply MAS to industrial domains exhibiting these characteristics, like manufacturing and smart grids. In spite of the adequacy of the MAS principles to solve the industrial requirements, the truly deployment of MAS for industrial applications is far to be solved. This paper discusses the current challenges for the deployment of MAS in the context of industrial applications, mainly focusing the integration of agents with physical equipment and the ability to run agents directly in industrial or low cost controllers. An experimental MAS solution for a smart grid case study was deployed aiming to support the discussion.

Abstract
Service-oriented paradigm is becoming a suitable approach to address the demand for distributed and reconfigurable control systems in industrial and factory automation environments. This paper discusses a decision support system approach for the conflict resolution and exception handling in a service-oriented control architecture for industrial automation, that uses High-level Petri nets to implement the system process control. The proposed decision support system is based on two granularity levels, one related to decision mechanisms embedded in local control components and other related to upper and global intelligent entities that provide decision-making services.

Abstract
This paper proposes a methodology for the development of collaborative (agent-based) production systems, using High-Level Petri nets. The proposed methodology supports the development life-cycle from specifications analysis through to design-validation and implementation of collaborative and re-configurable production systems and their control systems, in an integrated manner. It covers a wide spectrum of application domains, ranging from intelligent mechatronic devices to multi-agent distributed manufacturing control systems.

Abstract
Automation systems are changing from the centric-controlled approach to a more flexible and autonomous behavior. The contribution to this philosophy comes from several technologies, including service-oriented concepts. This work focus on some open points of enhanced communication and control patterns and presents it in form of a multi-use communication module. For the development of such systems, the SOA4D implementation of Device Profile for Web Services (DPWS) was used. The specified communication structure that works on top of the DPWS toolkit can be integrated in software applications targeting but not limited to embedded devices. The resulting interaction patterns also establish a-stronger association to real life services and define flexible communication routines between service requester and provider.