How Close to Reality is the „as-is” Business Process Simulation Model?

This paper focuses on the potential of process mining to support the construction of business process simulation (BPS) models. To date, research efforts are scarce and have a rather conceptual nature. Moreover, publications fail to explicit the complex internal structure of a simulation model. The current paper outlines the general structure of a BPS model. Building on these foundations, modeling tasks for the main components of a BPS model are identified. Moreover, the potential value of process mining and the state of the art in literature are discussed. Consequently, a multitude of promising research challenges are identified. In this sense, the current paper can guide future research on the use of process mining in a BPS context.

Depending on the complexity of organizational processes, the development of process simulation models might be a very demanding activity in which simulation professionals describe business processes using a specific simulation language. Besides being a difficult and error prone activity, process simulation modelling is also a major reason why simulation projects have a tendency to take too much time to be accomplished. In an effort to contribute to improve the situation, in this paper we present an approach in which previously developed process simulation components are used in the context of simulation projects. Using this approach, new process simulation models are developed in a component-based fashion by simply selecting pieces of simulation functionality from a repository of process simulation components, which were previously developed and properly tested. As an example, by taking advantage of the componentization mechanisms available in a specific simulation tool, we have developed a small set of process simulation components which were stored in a repository and then used in the development of a new business process simulation model.

The construction of a business process simulation (BPS) model requires significant modeling efforts. This paper focuses on modeling the interarrival time (IAT) of entities, i.e. the time between the arrival of consecutive entities. Accurately modeling entity arrival is crucial as it influences process performance metrics such as the average waiting time. In this respect, the analysis of event logs can be useful. Given the limited process mining support for this BPS modeling task, the contribution of this paper is twofold. Firstly, an IAT input model taxonomy for process mining is introduced, describing event log use depending on process and event log characteristics. Secondly, ARPRA is introduced and operationalized for gamma distributed IATs. This novel approach to mine an IAT input model is the first to explicitly integrate the notion of queues. ARPRA is shown to significantly outperform a benchmark approach which ignores queue formation.

Simulation is a key technique for enabling business process analysts to predict the process behavior at design time. However, some issues limit the effectiveness of business process simulation (e.g., lack of simulation know how, costs and difficulties for gathering process data, semantic gap between the business process model and the simulation model). This paper proposes a model-driven method that automates the generation of executable business process simulation code. In order to address the increasing complexity and to take into account the inherent collaborative aspects of modern business processes, the simulation code produced by the proposed method replicates the business process distributed structure (in terms, e.g., of a service-oriented architecture) by including a set of simulation services that are orchestrated into a distributed simulation execution. The characterization of business processes in terms of the required performance properties is introduced through standard BPMN annotations according to a well-defined syntax, thus avoiding the need of additional languages. The implementation of the executable simulation code is based on the eBPMN language, a domain-specific language that preserves the semantic behavior of the original BPMN standard.

This paper proposes the use of multi-agent simulation model for making decisions on business process design in emergent organisations. Empirical and theoretical evidence makes it explicit that theoretical models are useful in defining and solving business problems. It is difficult to gauge the value of new business ideas in a real life business environment and simulation of complex business processes is a potential solution. The simulation process can be repeated as theoretical experiments until simulated results fall within the recommended level. These decisions can then be incorporated with confidence into the real life decision-making process. We critically discuss challenges and opportunities in the areas of managing carbon-footprint and environmental reporting. We show how to build a multi-agent simulation model of business processes as complex adaptive systems and how it can form a decision making tool. In this process, the theory of deferred action is invoked as the base theory.

Business processes and information systems mutually affect each other in non-trivial ways. Frequently, the business process design and the information system design are not well aligned. This means that business processes are designed without taking the information system impact into account, and vice versa. Missing alignment at design time often results in quality problems at runtime, such as large response times of information systems, large process execution times, overloaded information systems or interrupted processes. Aligning business process quality and information system quality at design time requires to
\nsolve the following problems (P). Business process quality and information system quality have to be characterized. P1: In contrast to information system quality, which is specified in the ISO/IEC 9126 standard, for example, there is no common and comprehensive understanding of business process quality. P2: Beyond that, current business process
\nmodeling notations do not aim to represent quality aspects. The impact of a business process on the quality of an information system, and vice versa, is unknown at design
\ntime. P3: The mutual impact between business processes and information systems must be predicted at design time.
\nIn this thesis, the Business Process Quality Reference-Model (BPQRM), a quality model for business processes, is introduced. The model allows for a comprehensive characterization of business process quality (P1). The BPQRM is applied successfully in a case study to
\nidentify potential for process quality improvement in practice. Based on the BPQRM an existing process modeling notation is extended by model elements to represent quality
\naspects (P2). Simulation is a powerful means to predict the impact of a business process on the quality of an information system, and vice versa, at design time. This thesis proposes two simulation approaches to predict the mutual impact between business processes and information systems, in terms of performance (P3). The approach Business
\nIT Impact Simulation (BIIS) defines interfaces between the business process simulation and the information system simulation. Performance-relevant information is exchanged
\nvia the interfaces between both simulations. Using business process simulation and information system simulation in isolation, workload burstiness is not adequately reflected.
\nThis is especially true for occasional, volatile peak loads. Workload burstiness can significantly affect the performance of business processes and information systems. The approach Integrated Business IT Impact Simulation (IntBIIS) for the integration of business processes and information systems in a single simulation allows for reflecting workload burstiness correctly. The simulation approaches support the comparison of design alternatives and the verification of a certain design against requirements. A case study confirms the feasibility in practice and the acceptance from practitioners’ point of
\nview.

This paper introduces a framework for re- engineering design and assessment of a purchasing management system by business process simulation (BPS) and principal component analysis (PCA). The users of the purchasing management verified that the goals of a re-engineering model are to create a process-oriented approach in order to reduce purchasing process cycle time, faster customer response time and lower cost. The conceptual model of the business process was developed by integrated definition for function modeling (IDEFO). The process times were collected by standard time study and analyzed by statistical analysis and the computer simulation model of the process was developed by Visual SLAM. The current system was then compared with three business process re-engineering (BPR) models through PCA. The first BPR utilizes Davenport approach as process designing and using organizational, human resource and IT enablers. The second and third alternatives use electronic data interchange (EDI) technology and deletion of expense accounts in the current purchasing system. The approach of this study may be used for re-engineering design and assessment of other Purchasing management systems.

Prosimos is an open-source tool that discovers business process simulation models from execution data (event logs) and that enables users to perform what-if analysis using the resulting models. Prosimos distinguishes itself from other data-driven business process simulation approaches in the way it models resources. Existing data-driven simulation approaches treat resources as undifferentiated entities, grouped into resource pools, and assume that all resources in a pool have the same performance and availability calendars. In contrast, Prosimos allows resources (within a pool) to have different performance and availability profiles. For example, instead of treating all claims officers in an insurance claims handling process as having the same performance and availability, Prosimos may capture scenarios where senior resources perform some tasks faster than junior ones, or scenarios where some resources work part-time. To this end, Prosimos integrates algorithms for discovering differentiated resource profiles from event logs.

This contribution explores the role of business process simulation to address change management projects dealing with organizational growth. In particular, we consider the adoption of new ICT applications in the context of a growing Small Medium Enterprise based in northern Italy. As income doubled in few years, managers exploited the opportunity to implement a more efficient material resource planning together with an accurate business process analysis. First, the organization was modeled by adopting standard notation BPMN 2.0. Second, data analysis explores organization details as orders arrival, duration of activities, staff working hours. Finally, discrete-event simulation of business processes offers interesting suggestions by varying incoming transactions as well as different parameters in the model. The approach clearly shows how modeling, computational simulation and scenario analysis of business processes are suitable tools to support organizational change.

The relevance of the study is due to the fact that despite the sustainable development of methods and technologies for creating models of various classes and purposes, the tasks of managing their quality (the so-called inverse problems of theoretical qualimetry) are often neglected. For example, in the field of information technology, much more attention is paid to assessing the quality of software products, which is reflected in the corresponding standards. These tasks become especially relevant when models reflect a complex process (CP), and such processes may be unique, and obtaining complete objective data on such CPs prior to modeling is difficult or impossible (accidents and disasters models, military operations, natural disasters, and others like that). The article’s main purpose is to consider the issues of solving the inverse qualimetric problem by parametric adaptation of analytical models to unpredictable possible changes in the complex processes’ nature. The solution to this problem is based on the combined (analytical and simulation) modeling of unique processes. Theoretical qualimetry involves a quantitative assessment of any product's qualitative properties; to ensure the adequacy level of analytical models (based on the results of their parametric adaptation), it is planned to evaluate with the use of well-known metrology principles regarding relative measurement deviations. In this case, detailed simulation modelling results are used as a reference for combined modelling. The complexity of the processes conditiond by the expediency of their polymodel description in order to mutually compensate for the objective deficiencies of heterogeneous models, as well as the use of simulation capabilities to adjust the parameters of analytical models in cases where the use of the latter is due to strict time constraints on obtaining calculation results and developing control actions based onthem. A variant of the formalized statement of the problem of parametric adaptation of analytical models is presented. A presented example that considers the adaptation of parameters of the Lanchestertype analytical model conducted on simulation data. The adaptation of parameters could be carried out in different ways, and the expediency of choosing a certain one is determined by the assessment of mutual deviations of the results of heterogeneous modeling. The results of the calculations witnesses that parametric adaptation can be an effective element in solving one of the key tasks of model qualimetry, namely, ensuring their required qualitative properties. The prospect of further research is to consider the issues of structural adaptation of simulation models to the given conditions for displaying complex processes.

The lifecycles of business processes and business software interact with each other since business software is used to support business processes, and requirements on business software are derived from business processes. By integrating these lifecycles, it is possible to test if the business software meets the process-based requirements as well as to identify which impacts changes of the software product have on the business process. In this chapter, the authors give an introduction into these interdependencies. Foundations of lifecycle management, business process modeling, and performance engineering are presented, followed by the description of a framework for an integrated lifecycle management for business processes and business software. This framework is based on business process simulation and software performance prediction. The evaluation of the framework is described by applying it to an example of use and the results are discussed. The chapter closes with a conclusion and an outlook on future work.

We review the state of the art of process modeling for discrete event simulation, make a number of observations and identify a number of issues that have to be tackled for promoting the use of process modeling in simulation. Process models are of particular interest in model-based simulation engineering approaches where the executable simulation model (code) is obtained with the help of textual or visual models. We present an illustrative example of model-based simulation development.

In this research will be analyzed the business process for transfer payment transaction inside one of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) distributor company in Bandung. The aims of this research are to understand the current situation of the business process, give a solution for the business issue faced by the company and to speed up the business process. The analysis in this research was done by using two methodologies, customer value chain analysis, and business process simulation. This research used customer value chain analysis to visualize the flow of information regarding the transaction payment from the customer to the company. This research used business process simulation to calculate the processing speed of the current situation to determine that the process is possible to be improved. For the simulation, this research utilized iGrafx software. The research founds that in this LPG distributor company, there is a problem of undetected transfer payment. This business issue creates opportunity loss and bottleneck in the company. This research found that the current business process for transfer payment transaction in this company is not efficient enough. Simulation results supported this finding and became the basis for developing some alternative solutions for this business issue. This research proposed three possible solutions based on an information technology system to solve the issue. The targets for alternative solutions are to eliminate the undetected transfer payment cases and to increase the company sales number by making the business process more efficient.

In this paper a computational model for the numerical simulation of Friction Stir Welding (FSW) processes is presented. FSW is a new method of welding in solid state in which a shouldered tool with a profile probe is rotated and slowly plunged into the joint line between two pieces of sheet or plate material which are butted together. Once the probe has been completely inserted, it is moved with a small tilt angle in the welding direction. Here a quasi‐static, thermal transient, mixed multiscale stabilized Eulerian formulation is used. Norton‐Hoff and Sheppard‐Wright rigid thermo‐viscoplastic material models have been considered. A staggered solution algorithm is defined such that for any time step, the mechanical problem is solved at constant temperature and then the thermal problem is solved keeping constant the mechanical variables. A pressure multiscale stabilized mixed linear velocity/linear pressure finite element interpolation formulation is used to solve the mechanical problem and a convection multiscale stabilized linear temperature interpolation formulation is used to solve the thermal problem. The model has been implemented into the in‐house developed FE code COMET. Results obtained in the simulation of FSW process are compared to other numerical results or experimental results, when available.

Although Business process modelling is an increasingly popular research area for both organisations and enterprises due to its usefulness in optimizing resources management, business reengineering and business performance, it is not yet widely accepted in Small and Medium size Enterprises (SMEs), which are vital for sustainable economy development. The understanding of Business Process is an essential approach for an Organization to achieve set objectives and improve its operations. It has been able to show Business Analysts, and Managers where bottleneck exists in the system, how to optimize the Business Process to reduce cost of running the Organization, and the required resources needed for an Organization. This is clear for large scale organizations and enterprises but under research investigation for SMEs. Business Process Modelling (BPM) is a representation of the processes of the Organization. Several modelling techniques have been proposed and used to capture the characteristics of business processes. However, limited guidelines exist for selecting appropriate modelling techniques based on the characteristics of the problem and its requirements. This is even more accurate in the case of selecting proper BPM software tools to achieve those BPM modelling and simulation goals. This paper aims at presenting a comparative analysis of some relatively popular business process modelling techniques focusing on the associated software tools. The comparative framework proposed is based on the following major criteria: data flow capability, logical reasoning and understandability, specification of roles, and capability of simulation, flexibility and ease of use, simulation support and scope. However, the emphasis of this investigation is put on SME applicability of these tools and techniques. Therefore, the first goal is to define proper selection criteria for the application of BPM tools to SMEs. The proposed framework can serve as the basis for evaluating further modelling techniques and generating selection procedures focusing on a comparison of existing tools to implement these techniques properly for SMEs. This is to enable a potential user/modeller choose the right technique and tool in modelling critical SME Business Processes in order to analyse and optimize its operations.