A generic framework for simulation of supply networks with bargaining agents

In this paper we present the main aspects of the problem of simulalion of a supply chain using an agent-based system. lt is emphasized that the difference with other simulalion models is that the principal concept of the simulation environment is the event concept. Agents are interacting via action/events, these concepts being introduced previously by the AOR modelling language. The configuration of the supply network is model based, the model being described in AORmI. Because we use negotialion as a basis for agent-to-agent interaction, we specialise the AOR concepts in order to have a better mapping with the problems of supply network simulation. In a supply network the negotiation is more bargaining (fallback) oriented, and we present some scenarios in this case, which clearly differentiate the geneneric model of interaction from the auction based one. We show how the experimentation with such a simulation test bed can be used to implement agent-based information systems for supply network management