Risk assessment of process models

The IDEF methodology has been extensively used for modeling various processes. Qualitative and quantitative reliability analysis and risk assessment of IDEF models is of interest to industry for several reasons. It identifies critical activities in a process, improves the process performance, and decreases downtime and operating cost of the process. To evaluate the risk associated with an IDEF3 model formal tools and techniques are required. In this paper, the fault tree analysis technique and minimum cut and path sets generation algorithms are applied for reliability evaluation and risk assessment of the parent activities in an IDEF3 model. A structural and reliability importance measure for parent activities in an IDEF3 model as well as for the elementary activities in a decomposed model are presented.     

A methodology and tool environment for process analysis and reengineering

Most private and public organizations have recently turned their attention to the process by which they operate, to improve service and product quality and customer satisfaction. To support business process reengineering, methods and tools for process modeling and analysis are required. The paper presents the ARTEMIS methodology and associated tool environment for business process analysis for reengineering. In the ARTEMIS methodological framework, business processes are modeled as workflows and are analyzed according to an organizational structure perspective and an operational structure perspective. With these two perspectives, the analyst can plan reengineering interventions based on the degree of autonomy/dependency of organization units in terms of coupling, and the inter-process semantic correspondences, in terms of data and operation similarity, respectively. The ARTEMIS methodology and associated tool environment have been conceived and applied in the framework of the PROGRESS research project. In the paper, we report on a reengineering case study of this project involving the Italian Ministry of Justice.     

Supply chain reengineering using a core process analysis matrix and object-oriented simulation

To satisfy and respond quickly to customers’ demand, many companies are now aggressively focusing on supply chain management in order to strengthen their competitiveness. This paper proposes an integrated business process reengineering (BPR) framework for improving performance. There are several steps in this framework: creating vision, identifying core processes to be redesigned, analyzing current core processes, designing for innovation, evaluating the new processes, selecting the best, and transforming and implementing the resulting design. A core process analysis matrix is proposed for identifying the critical processes. System simulation is useful in measuring the performance and predicting the effect of change on the system. To reduce the risk of BPR, an object-oriented simulation framework is developed for evaluating and analyzing the reengineering proposals. This paper uses a case study to show the value of the method.     

数据驱动的汽车总装线建模与仿真技术研究

现代制造业的生产模式向柔性制造和客户化定制方向发展,为了提高制造系统的快速响应能力,实现快速仿真分析,提出基于数据驱动的建模与仿真方法,其具有建模周期短、模型可读性、可重用性较高的特点.利用IDEFIX建模方法建立模型的底层数据结构,基于Arena构建仿真模型生成器,利用已建好的数据模型提供的属性信息,自动生成目标系统...     

基于高级Pet r i 网的BPR 过程建模与仿真

针对BPR实施中的过程优化问题,从实用、可行的角度探索基于高级Petri网的模型,运用计算机仿真手段确定BPR方案,首先介绍并细化化基于高级Petri网的面向BPR的流程模型（BPR-PN）,然后设计并探讨自顶而下的BPR流程建模方法与步骤,最后探讨了基于BPR-PN的流程仿真方法、仿真过程管理及仿真数据分析。     

面向服务架构在动态企业应用集成中的应用

现代企业间的竞争日趋激烈,为迅速实现业务过程重组并敏捷地响应市场变化,企业产生了进行动态企业应用集成（EAI）的需求。粗粒度的松耦合的面向服务架构（SOA）是一个支持动态EAI的具有较好健壮性的架构。通过对SOA的分析,提出了一个通用的SOA基础模型,分析了基于SOA的动态EAI技术和实现方式。最后结合医学资源网项目,开发了一个基于SOA的动态EAI平台.     

IDEF3过程模型执行性研究

针对静态IDEF3过程模型无法回答能否正确获取系统需求以及是否合理实现系统目标的问题,提出了IDEF3过程模型动态可执行方法.方法说明了IDEF3过程模型可执行的必要条件以及它们之间的关系,给出了主要模型元素执行过程的描述,并详细讨论了IDEF3过程模型执行结果的分析方法,说明了系统需求的获取以及对实现目标合理性的评估.从IDEF3过程模型执行结果分析来看,方法能很好地评估系统需求是否实现,业务过程是否合理,并能对实践产生很好的指导作用.     

Requirement definition architecture—an overview

The Integrated Computer Aided Manufacturing (ICAM) program of the U.S. Air Force identifieda need to better communicate and analyze manufacturing for the people involved in improving productivity. To satisfy that need, the ICAM program developed the IDEF (ICAM Definition) method to address particular of Manufacturing. This IDEF Method is equally applicable in analyzing other types of organizations.IDEF comprises of three modeling methodologies: Function model methodology (IDEF₀), Information model methodology (IDEF₁) and Dynamics model methodology IDEF₂). This paper presents and overview of each of the methods. In addition, a life cycle for Information Systes Development is developed to utilize the methods. Step by step procedures and examples are also presented.     

Data driven production modeling and simulation of complex automobile general assembly plant

Flexible manufacturing and customization has long been a topic in modern manufacturing society. However, challenges still remain on the responsiveness of production system to the fluctuation of market demand. In this paper, we developed a data driven simulation methodology to automatically model a production system and rapidly modify the model corresponding to dynamic requirements and real time information. This methodology provides a “rapid prototyping” capability for production system modeling and enables a quick analyzing and remodeling capability to respond to the fluctuation of demands. The approach is developed and applied to an automotive general assembly plant with an online material handling system. A complete information model based on IDEF1X is constructed for this domain specific modeling and simulation. The main simulation modules for assembly line and material handling system of the plant floor are analyzed and a simulator is implemented in ARENA by SIMAN/VBA program. The case study of an automotive assembly plant shows that the data driven approach enables the modeling and simulation of the complex assembly plant in a “real-time” fashion and therefore effectively improve the responsiveness and flexibility of the production line.     

Cost-Benefit Analysis of Software Quality Models

Software reliability is increasingly important in today's marketplace. When traditional software development processes fail to deliver the level of reliability demanded by customers, radical changes in software development processes may be needed. Business process reengineering (BPR) is the popular term for comprehensive redesign of business processes. This paper focuses on the business processes that produce commercial software, and illustrates the central role that models have in implementation of BPR. Software metrics and software-quality modeling technology enable reengineering of software development processes, moving from a static process model to a dynamic one that adapts to the expected quality of each module. We present a method for cost-benefit analysis of BPR of software development processes as a function of model accuracy. The paper defines costs, benefits, profit, and return on investment from both short-term and long-term perspectives. The long-term perspective explicitly accounts for software maintenance efforts. A case study of a very large legacy telecommunications system illustrates the method. The dependent variable of the software-quality model was whether a module will have faults discovered by customers. The independent variables were software product and process metrics. In an example, the costs and benefits of using the model are compared to using random selection of modules for reliability enhancement. Such a cost-benefit analysis clarifies the implications of following model recommendations.     

使用ARIS进行动态业务流程建模

为了能够在当今高度竞争的商业环境中生存和发展,企业需要不断改进自身的业务流程。显然,对业务流程进行动态建模可以大大提高项目重新设计的成功可能。本文对利用ARIS进行业务流程进行动态建模做了可行性研究;同时,文章还对业务流程模型的仿真进行了讨论。最后本文给出了一个关于ARIS动态建模应用在保险公司的实例。     

基于Petri网的制造过程重组

首先用ＩＤＥＦ０建模方法对系统进行描述，然后将其转换为Ｐｅｔｒｉ网模型以确定制造活动间的选择，冲突，同步和并发关系，进一步用基于关联矩阵的重组算法对制造活动进行重组，建立制造活动耦合集间的同步和冲突表，从而达到了利用制造活动耦合集间的并和来减少制造过程周期的目的。     

基于P—PROCE模型的工作流仿真研究

1.引言工作流管理技术经过近十年左右的发展,已经日益成熟并且渗透到各个应用领域。企业经营过程重组、并行工程等研究已经把工作流作为一种重要的使能技术来对待。它提供过程建模、模型分析和过程管理的功能。其中与模型分析相关的技术有静态校验和动态仿真。模型验证在图论和Petri网理论的基础上,已经进行了相当深入的研究,并开发出相对成熟的     

支持C4ISR系统研究的一种集成建模方法

建模仿真技术是C4ISR体系结构研究、C4ISR系统分析与设计所采用的重要且有效的方法之一。该文介绍了一种应用于C4ISR系统研究的集成建模方法：应用IDEFO建模方法进行CAISR系统的顶层分析与设计研究，并实现IDEFO模型向OOPN模型的转换；然后实现OOPN模型的动态运行，并根据仿真结果，度量、评估顶层分析与设计成果或系统的性能。最后，本文给出集成IDEFO和OOPN的建模仿真方法的一个简单应用示例。     

A methodology to model the functional structure of an organization

The Integrated Computer Aided Manufacturing (ICAM) program of the U.S. Air Force identified a need to better communicate and analyze manufacturing for the people involved in improving productivity. To satisfy that need, the ICAM program developed the IDEF (ICAM Definition) method to address particular characteristics of manufacturing. This IDEF Method is equally applicable in analyzing other types of organizations.IDEF comprises of three modeling methodologies: Function model methodology (IDEF₀), Information model methodology (IDEF₁) and Dynamics model methodology (IDEF₂). This paper reports on the function model methodology only. This methodology is used to construct a function model which helps in understanding the actions, activities, decisions, and informational interfaces needed to support the functions of an organization.     

A methodology to model the Dynamic structure of an organization

The Integrated Computer Aided Manufacturing (ICAM) program of the U.S. Air Force identified a need to better communicate and analyze manufacturing for the people involved in improving productivity. To satisfy that need, the ICAM program developed the IDEF (ICAM Definition) method to address particular characteristics of manufacturing. This IDEF Method is equally applicable in analyzing other types of organizations.IDEF comprises of three modeling methodologies: function model methodology (IDEF₀), information model methodology (IDEF₁) and dynamics model methodology (IDEF₂). This paper reports on the dynamics model methodology only. This methodology is used to construct models which help in understanding the Dynamic (time-varying behavior) structure which the functions of an organization exhibit.     

Automatic derivation of BPEL4WS from IDEF0 process models

Integration definition for function modelling (IDEF0) is one of the most popular notations for modelling business processes. It employs a rather simple and intuitive modelling construct, consisting of boxes representing functions and arrows connecting them signifying flow of information and materials. Web services on the other hand are an emerging technology for implementing distributed systems. Web service orchestration languages, such as Business Process Execution Language for Web Services (BPEL4WS), are the emerging approach for describing processes as networks of coordinated web services. Business processes as captured in IDEF0 models, however, may contain both web services as well as other types of activities which need to be coordinated. By automatically analysing the Extensible Markup Language (XML) definition of an IDEF0 model, we can identify how web services interact with other activities and at runtime generate code to support the orchestration of web services with the overall business process. The approach proposed is independent of the orchestration language and ensures an implementation independent model for specifying web service orchestrations. This approach also enables the top-down analysis of a business process to its constituent web services and avoids any misalignment problems during design time between the two.     

A systematic approach to business process reengineering

In this study, a business process is defined as a set of various tasks which are closely inter-related and is assumed to have its own objectives to achieve. A set of processes constitute a business system. Many business process reengineering plans turned out to be unsuccessful because they are based on the existing process which assumed tasks along the process independent or based on the assumption that a process is independent of other processes. This approach generated redundant tasks or led to conflict between business processes. Under this approach, it very difficult to predict the result of the plan due to localized analysis of the process. To avoid aforementioned problems, a systematic, analytic and iterative approach to build up a master plan for business process reengineering is proposed.     

Human and organizational error as a basis for processreengineering: with applications to systems integration planning andmarketing

This paper presents the results of research on how assessment of the incidence and causes of human and organizational error in implementing processes can be utilized as a partial basis for the reengineering of organizational structures and processes. A systems integration environment was used as a site for empirical observation. A model was developed for the life cycle process of preparing a systems integration proposal involving integration of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software and hardware, services, and value-added products. This model was used as a basis for analysis of errors committed during the life cycle process. From this analysis follows development of strategies for workflow and process reengineering. The identified approach can form part of a coordinated effort to reengineer vital processes within an organization with minimization of specific errors as a primary goal in efforts that involve the planning and engineering of systems     

Identification of time-varying pH processes using sinusoidal signals

This paper presents an approach to the identification of time-varying, nonlinear pH processes based on the Wiener model structure. The algorithm produces an on-line estimate of the titration curve, where the shape of this static nonlinearity changes as a result of changes in the weak-species concentration and/or composition of the process feed stream. The identification method is based on the recursive least-squares algorithm, a frequency sampling filter model of the linear dynamics and a polynomial representation of the inverse static nonlinearity. A sinusoidal signal for the control reagent flow rate is used to generate the input-output data along with a method for automatically adjusting the input mean level to ensure that the titration curve is identified in the pH operating region of interest. Experimental results obtained from a pH process are presented to illustrate the performance of the proposed approach. An application of these results to a pH control problem is outlined.