Cross-Domain simulation based on BPMN and the Process-Driven Approach

Simulation tools are currently facing two significant challenges: On the one hand, common applications are often focussed on a specific domain, which leads to a high synchronisation and integration effort in the investigation of cross-domain issues. On the other hand, the transition from simulated models to operations monitoring and continuous improvement requires a high further development effort or even a completely new implementation with other technologies. This paper aims to present a novel one-size-fits-all approach based on the Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) standard and the Process-Driven Approach (PDA) for creating and executing process models for discrete event simulation. It combines the BPMN’s potential to graphically represent any processes in arbitrary precision with those of PDA to sustainably integrate services, databases and tools via low-code. By means of two exemplary case studies, we would like to illustrate its practical implementation and potentials and challenge the scientific discourse.