Agent-based support of mass customization for corporate knowledge management

The paper describes an agent-based architecture developed as a part of the KSNet-approach to the knowledge logistics. This approach is targeted to timely provide an appropriate personalized knowledge for an intelligent support of decision-makers. In the KSNet-approach the problem of knowledge logistics is considered as a configuration of a network of end-users/customers, loosely coupled knowledge sources/resources, and set of tools and methods for information processing. Such network located in the information environment has been referred to as knowledge source network or "KSNet". The paper presents this approach from the perspective of application of the mass customization idea to corporate knowledge management as a major information kernel technology of intelligent enterprises. As an example of intelligent enterprise the paper considers virtual supply network. Main ideas of the KSNet-approach are presented and the structure of the developed agents' society is described in more detail. Main results are illustrated via a configuration case study and discussed in conclusions. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.