The Possibility of Establishing a Multi-Agent System An Exploratory Study of the Opinions of A Sample of Managers in the General Company for Iraqi Cement /Northern Cement Association

Abstract

The current research aims at determining the possibility of establishing a multi-agent system in the Iraqi General Company for Cement / Northern Cement Association for the purpose of establishing a sophisticated industrial environment capable of providing products that meet the market needs in terms of quality and cost, on the one hand, and securing a competitive advantage that secures it superiority over competing companies, on the other hand. By relying on modern production systems that contribute to reducing costs and improving quality, including the Multi- Agent System, henceforth (MAS),the research problem started from the following questions:

1. What is the extent of knowledge of the managers in the company under the study about the concept and applications of the Multi-Agent System?
2. Are the managers in the company under the study seeking to establish a Multi-Agent System?
3. Which applications are most suitable for the company under the study?

The research reached a set of conclusions, the most important of which are the following:

1. There is a willingness in the company under the study to establish a Multi-Agent System.
2. There is a great importance for the applications of the Multi-Agent System in the company under the study.

In light of the previous conclusions, a number of proposals were presented, perhaps the most prominent of which are the following::

1. Increasing the interest of the management of the company under the study in the applications of the Multi-Agent System.
2. Determining a timetable for the tasks through which the products are manufactured in the company under the study.