Modelling business processes in steel fabrication

This paper outlines the utilization of the Structured Analysis and Design Technique (SADT) in developing a business process model as part of an IMI-LINK research programme. The project investigates the integration of design and construction through a demonstrator project using steel roof trusses. The SADT modelling technique is a graphical language-based methodology that generates activity models depicting, in a successively detailed manner, process activities and their relationships to each other. The paper highlights the problems and limitations encountered during knowledge acquisition process for the model, the modelling process, and outlines the research programme for the re-engineering of the fabrication process.