Modeling and simulation of time and value throughputs of data-aware workflow processes

Time and value throughputs reflect the actual workload and gross profit of enterprises over a period of time, respectively. Both of them are of great importance to the operation of data-aware workflow processes, since they can help managers to balance production capacity at each stage as well as determine how much capital should be recycled over a period of time. However, the existing methods have not investigated both time and value throughputs of data-aware workflow processes. In this paper, we propose a new approach to modeling and simulation of time and value throughputs of data-aware workflow processes. First of all, we construct an abstract model with time and value elements. Second, the abstract model is transformed into a simulation model in CPN Tools. Finally, we obtain and analyze the time and value throughputs automatically via the simulation logs. Compared with the existing methods, this is the first attempt to propose both time and value throughputs of data-aware workflow processes, and the whole procedure of modeling and simulation of them. Furthermore, the procedure of obtaining time and value throughputs through analyzing the logs is proposed, and a prototype system is designed and developed.