Workflow Model Analysis Based on Time Constraint Petri Nets

The ultimate goal of workflow management is to implement the right person executes the right activity at the right time. To make enterprises more competitive, time-related restrictions of business processes should be considered in workflow models. A workflow model, which considers time related factors, requires time specification and verification before it goes into production so as to guarantee the time coordination in workflow executions. Through extending time attributes for the elements in WF-nets, this paper investigates the integration of the time constraints imposed on business processes into their workflow models and the new nets are called TCWF-nets. Based on analyzing the schedulability of business activities, a time consistency verification method is put forward to assure safe time interactions between activities during workflow executions. The schedulability analysis method can not only check for the time feasibility of its execution for a given workflow schedule when the time constraints are imposed on business processes, but also give an optimal schedule to guarantee the minimum duration of workflow execution for a specific case. Research results show that this method supports the time modeling and analysis in business processes, and has an important value in enhancing time management functionality as well as the adaptability to dynamic business environments of current WFMS.