Modelling of actors within a chemical engineering work process model

Abstract:
Within the domain of chemical engineering, most of the work that regularly occurs during the development and improvement of chemical processes is very complex and highly creative. It takes place in a very heterogeneous environment where computational and non-computational tools continuously interplay and decisions are based on both, mathematical models and empirical knowledge. This high complexity contributes to the desire to support these work processes using computer-based information systems, with the goal of making the knowledge of few experts available to a wider audience and enabling earlier productivity of inexperienced engineers. In order to be able to reach this goal, both a very good understanding of work processes during chemical engineering process design and a model in which to capture this knowledge are needed. Both, human beings and computer support tools participate and interact among themselves to carry out design tasks. This contribution deals with the modeling of these actors and their characteristics in relation to the activities they execute within the framework of a design process. Specifically, a process model with a focus on the interactions between activities and actors is presented and the meaning of the different model elements is discussed in detail. The model allows the representation of actors within a work process, with their qualifications and goals. Moreover, it relates actors with the activities they execute. Activities are represented in terms of the products they generate and the skills they require to be executed. The proposed object-oriented model covers three layers of abstraction: metaclass, class and instance. Its use is illustrated through an example that deals with the process synthesis of a thermally coupled distillation train that is employed to separate a hydrocarbon mixture.

Keywords:
Work process modeling, actor, workflow, process support.

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