BPMN Extensions for Modeling Continuous Processes

Abstract

Business process management has focused on discrete processes so far, i.e., processes with identifiable distinct outcomes (e.g., in manufacturing). By contrast, processes known from process and control engineering, e.g., chemical synthesis, have not been fully considered yet. Such processes can be discrete or continuous, i.e., require real-time control systems with constant inlet and outlet flows as well as temporally stable conditions. This paper models continuous processes with existing and standardized means, i.e., BPMN, and provides an exact definition of the parameters and loop conditions. The capabilities of BPMN for modeling continuous processes are analyzed and necessary extensions are provided. The concepts are applied to several real-world use cases from process and control engineering.