Performance measurement
Performance measurements constitute a communication vehicle unmatched by any alternative known today. It allows academics to assess each other's results. It permits industry to judge the importance of academic results. It helps industries to evaluate their competitiveness. It helps industries to collaborate. Consequently, performance measurement plays a key role in research related to the application of computers in industry.
This special issue comprises papers that highlight the broad range of issues and aspects that are impacted by performance measurement. The first paper, entitled ''Performance: its meaning and content for today's business research'' by Paul Folan, Jim Browne and Harinder Jagdev, addresses the concept itself as well as its implications. The second, third and fourth paper present a selection of applications that need performance measurement as a means to communicate their scientific contribution and industrial potential.
The second paper, entitled ''MAS coordination and control based on stigmergy'' by Paul Valckenaers, Hadeli, Bart Saint Germain, Paul Verstraete and Hendrik Van Brussel, discusses the design of an agent-based manufacturing execution system aiming for a reusable infrastructure. Because of this objective, the design does not offer end-user functionality-analogous to road maps failing to provide driving directions. Thus, this paper illustrates the diversity and unpredictability of the nature of the performance measurements that are required. In this case, the forecast reliability and the durability of the system components need to be measured. Particularly, its ability to forecast resource loads and product routings constitutes the key contribution of the research and suitable performance measurements are needed to make the research community appreciate such contribution.
The third paper, entitled ''Stability-oriented evaluation of rescheduling strategies, by using simulation'' by Andra Β΄s Pfeiffer, Botond Ka Β΄da Β΄r, and La Β΄szlo Β΄Monostori, addresses rescheduling, where suitable performance measurements need to address users preferring stability (i.e. avoiding deviation from previous schedules for small gains). The fourth paper, entitled ''Simulation-based assessment of machine criticality measures for a shifting bottleneck scheduling approach in complex manufacturing systems'' by Lars Mo Β¨nch and Jens Zimmermann, discusses performance (criticality) measures as