Designing a multi-agent system for a network enterprise

The necessity to enhance the efficiency of modern network enterprises based on digital platform technologies, Digital Twins, and Digital Threads determines the relevance of implementing dynamic multi-agent technologies in production practice. The architectural complexity of existing multi-agent systems (MAS) and the lack of scientific research in the field of justifying methods and tools for their creation motivate the goal of this study to develop a comprehensive MAS design technology. This technology should encompass all architectural levels and allow for the adaptation of reference and best design practices. This article analyzes the possibilities of applying Digital Twins and Digital Threads in the creation of network enterprises and proposes methods for their implementation using MAS. A design technology for MAS has been developed in accordance with the IIRA (Industrial Internet Reference Architecture) and RAMI (Reference Architectural Model Industrie 4.0) architectural frameworks, which enables the interconnected formation and display of design results across various architectural levels. At the business level, a method is proposed for formulating business requirements for MAS based on the selection and adaptation of business models and application scenarios. At the level of constructing manufacturing and business processes, a method for formulating functional requirements for MAS is presented, revealing the transition from value networks to manufacturing and business process structures. At the level of functional design of the network enterprise’s multi-agent system, a method is proposed for forming key design solutions from the perspective of implementing various service categories using AAS (Asset Administrative Shells) and their specialization. At the technological implementation design level of MAS, a method for implementing software agents using a microservice software organization is proposed. The method presented for adapting reference and best MAS design models allows for the selection of appropriate design solutions from libraries of reference models and knowledge bases for subsequent refinement. This accelerates and improves the quality of the design process. The implementation of the developed technology for designing multi-agent systems will increase the adaptability of network enterprises to dynamically changing business needs, taking into account the interests and capabilities of all stakeholders.