A Model-Driven Transformation Framework for Business Process Simulation and Process-Level KPI Computation
Keywords:
Business Process Simulation, BPMN, BPSim, DEVS, Key Performance Indicators, SLA, Model-Driven Engineering, Model transformation, InteroperabilityAbstract
Business process simulation requires process-level performance indicators that can be computed traceably from parameterized process models. This paper extends a previously defined dual-phase transformation chain from Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) models enriched with Business Process Simulation Specification (BPSim) parameters to executable Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) simulation models through an Intermediate Interaction Model (I2M). The extension introduces additional I2M DEVS library components to support exclusive control-flow execution and structured process-level observation, together with four transformation rules linking BPMN constructs and BPSim annotations to the generated simulation model. A Key Performance Indicator (KPI) computation and aggregation methodology is also defined to transform execution level simulation events into process-level indicators through explicit aggregation rules. The approach organizes indicators into four performance dimensions: time, cost, resource, and quality. To demonstrate the extensibility of the framework, representative indicators including service-level agreement (SLA) compliance and rework-related metrics are implemented without modifying existing transformation rules. The extended framework is applied to a synthetic order-fulfillment process under multiple what-if scenarios involving targeted parameter changes. The results show that the approach supports traceable KPI computation and structured performance analysis under controlled simulation settings.References
[1] Van Looy and A. Shafagatova, Business process performance measurement: a structured literature review of indicators, measures and metrics, SpringerPlus, 5, 2016, 1797.
[2] W. M. P. van der Aalst, Process Mining: Discovery, Conformance and Enhancement of Business Processes, Springer, 2011.
[3] K. Rosenthal, B. Ternes, and S. Strecker, Business process simulation on procedural graphical process models: Structuring overview and paths for future research, Business & Information Systems Engineering, 63, 2021, 569–602.
[4] O. M. G. (OMG), Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) Version 2.0, 2011.
[5] Workflow Management Coalition, Business process simulation specification version 2.0. https://www.wfmc.org/standards/bpsim, 2016.
[6] M. E. Kassis, F. Trousset, G. Zacharewicz, and N. Daclin, Bridging the gap between business process and simulation: transformation from bpmn to devs, IFAC-PapersOnLine, 56, 2023, 11888–11893.
[7] M. El Kassis, F. Trousset, G. Zacharewicz, and N. Daclin, Incremental transformation of BPSim-enriched BPMN models into DEVS, Proceedings of the 2023 Winter Simulation Conference, San Antonio, TX, USA, 2023, 2542–2553.
[8] M. El Kassis, P. Bocciarelli, F. Trousset, N. Daclin, A. D’Ambrogio, and G. Zacharewicz, An hla-based automated approach for the interoperable simulation of collaborative business processes, Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory, 135, 2024, 102977.
[9] M. El Kassis, Transforming BPMN models enriched with BPSim parameters into DEVS : An Incremental Approach Enhancing Business Processes through Simulation, Ph.D. Thesis, IMT Mines Alès, France, 2024.
[10] M. Dumas, M. La Rosa, J. Mendling, and H. A. Reijers, Fundamentals of Business Process Management, 2nd ed., Springer, 2018.
[11] S. Robinson, Simulation: The Practice of Model Development and Use, 2nd edition, 2nd ed., Palgrave Macmillan, 2014.
[12] QBP Simulator, BIMP – business process simulator. https://bimp.cs.ut.ee/, 2015.
[13] Bizagi, Simulation in bizagi. https://help.bizagi.com/platform/en/simulation_in_bizagi.htm, 2022 (accessed April 16, 2026).
[14] Rockwell Automation, Arena simulation software. https://www.rockwellautomation.com/en us/products/software/arena-simulation.html, 2026 (accessed April 16, 2026).
[15] AnyLogic, Business process simulation software. https://www.anylogic.com/business-processes/, 2026 (accessed April 16, 2026).
[16] A. Borshchev, The Big Book of Simulation Modeling: Multimethod Modeling with AnyLogic 6, AnyLogic North America, 2013.
[17] SIMUL8, Business process management | simulation software. https://www.simul8.com/applications/business-process-management/, 2026 (accessed April 16, 2026).
[18] W. M. Van der Aalst, Challenges in business process management: Verification of business processes using petri nets, Bulletin of the EATCS, 80, 2003, 174–199.
[19] U. Mutarraf, K. Barkaoui, Z. Li, N. Wu, and T. Qu, Transformation of business process model and notation models onto Petri nets and their analysis, Advances in Mechanical Engineering, 10, 2018, 1–21.
[20] D. Cetinkaya, A. Verbraeck, and M. D. Seck, Mdd4ms: a model driven development framework for modeling and simulation, Proceedings of the 2011 Summer Computer Simulation Conference, Vista, CA, 2011, 113–121.
[21] H. Bazoun, Y. Bouanan, G. Zacharewicz, H. Boyer, and Y. Ducq, Business process simulation: transformation of bpmn 2.0 to devs models, SCS/ACM/IEEE Symposium on Theory of Modeling and Simulation, Tampa, USA, 2014.
[22] P. Bocciarelli, A. D’ambrogio, A. Giglio, E. Paglia, and D. Gianni, A transformation approach to enact the design-time simulation of bpmn models, 2014 IEEE 23rd International WETICE Conference, Parma, Italy, 2014, 199–204.
[23] A. D’Ambrogio and G. Zacharewicz, Resource-based modeling and simulation of business processes, Proceedings of the Summer Computer Simulation Conference, San Diego, CA, USA, 2016.
[24] Alshareef, H. S. Sarjoughian, and B. Zarrin, An approach for activity-based devs model specification, 2016 Symposium on Theory of Modeling and Simulation (TMS-DEVS), Pasadena, CA, USA, 2016, 1–8.
[25] Alshareef and H. S. Sarjoughian, Hierarchical activity-based models for control flows in parallel discrete event system specification simulation models, IEEE Access, 9, 2021, 80970–80985.
[26] P. Zeigler, H. Praehofer, and T. G. Kim, Theory of Modeling and Simulation, Academic Press, 2000.
[27] [27] H. S. Sarjoughian and A. M. Markid, Emf-devs modeling, Proceedings of the 2012 Symposium on Theory of Modeling and Simulation - DEVS Integrative M&S Symposium, San Diego, CA, USA, 2012.
[28] P. Zeigler and H. Sarjoughian, Devs-suite simulator. http://acims.asu.edu/software/devs suite/, 2010 (accessed January 15, 2026).
[29] A. M. Law, Simulation Modeling and Analysis, 5th ed., McGraw-Hill, 2015.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Mariane El Kassis, Charbel Kady, François Trousset, Nicolas Daclin, Gregory Zacharewicz
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:Authors hold and retain copyright, and grant the journal right of first publication, with the work after publication simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License CC BY that permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work and article without further permission provided that the original work is properly cited.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online in institutional repositories, website and other social media before and after publication, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
