Towards Modeling Inconsistencies in Production Workflows — An Experience Report

By: Thomas Weber, Niklas D. Kuder, Thomas A. Völk, Jonas Schneider, Sebastian Weber, Anne Koziolek

Abstract

The complexity of industrial workflows often necessitates the use of multiple models to adequately describe systems at various levels of abstraction. However, as the number of models involved in a process increases, so too does the potential for inconsistencies between models. These inconsistencies can impede workflow completion. Despite existing methods to manage workflows, there is a lack of approaches specifically addressing the modeling of inconsistencies between different models. In this paper, we propose a method to model inconsistencies between models, using specific event types within BPMN 2.0 diagrams, leveraging existing extensions to BPMN 2.0. We applied and evaluated this method in the manufacturing industry, specifically at a precision component manufacturer. We conducted nine expert interviews, and the insights we gained have helped us to identify 13 potential inconsistencies between the models used by the manufacturer. In our evaluation, the proposed modeling approach achieved a good level of usability. Our experience report adds real-world application to this practical solution for managing inconsistencies in industrial workflows. In this way, we contribute both to the field and to the practice of model-based engineering.

Keywords

Modeling methodologies, Inconsistency Modeling, Precision Manufacturing, Workflow Modeling, BPMN.

Cite as:

Thomas Weber, Niklas D. Kuder, Thomas A. Völk, Jonas Schneider, Sebastian Weber, Anne Koziolek, “Towards Modeling Inconsistencies in Production Workflows — An Experience Report”, Journal of Object Technology, Volume 24, no. 2 (May 2025), pp. 2:1-14, doi:10.5381/jot.2025.24.2.a2.