Using workflow for reconfigurable simulation-based planning and scheduling system

Abstract

Recent information systems are evolving and starting to have reconfigurable structures that enable rapid implementation and maintenance. Simulation-based planning and scheduling approaches are considered to be suitable for this trend, because they utilise simulations as decision-support tools composed of simulator, simulation models and experimental frames, and these components can be modularised easily according to their functionalities. To implement a simulation-based planning and scheduling system, we have designed workflows for basic structures of the system and a workflow management system that can be used as a platform on which various Web services and Business rules can be integrated. We have described the technical requirements and presented how to resolve them. As a case study, a production planning system is developed in the workflow-based manner along with the classical method as a control group; we have done a comparative performance evaluation between the two methodologies. This case study demonstrates that the proposed workflow-based approach is able to minimise system development efforts and maintain high enough performance to apply the approach in real life.