Abstract
Naive interpretations of concurrent engineering may expect extreme parallelization of tasks and simultaneous accommodation of multiple perspectives. In fact, from our efforts at modeling tasks in a MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) pressure sensor design project, it appears that data dependencies due to the structure of tasks and the product itself result in scenarios of decision and action that must be carefully coordinated. This paper refines a previously described information model for defining evolving contexts of product model aspects and team member perspectives, with software agents acting on behalf of team members to execute tasks. The pressure sensor design project is analyzed in the framework of the information model. A scenario of decision and action for design of the pressure sensor is modeled as a design process plan. Conflict on a shared parameter occurs as a consequence of introducing some parallelism between the capacitance and deflection agents in the process. We present a technique for negotiating such conflicts by definition and propagation of utility functions on decision parameters and axiomatic negotiation.
